Public remarks made by the leaders of China and India to Vladimir Putin last week signal a change in the world’s perception of the war he has unleashed, Western officials said. Three of them told the Financial Times.
A rebuke from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Putin’s admission that Chinese President Xi Jinping has “concerns” about the Ukrainian issue— “genuine and clear signal” of dissatisfactionsays a senior European official. In his opinion, China and India can adjust their actions towards Russia and the West, which is trying to weaken its support by countries that have not condemned the war.
The position of Modi and Xi in the West was interpreted “actually as criticism”a senior European minister told the Financial Times:
Especially from Modi. I don’t think he likes it [война] like.
Modi told Putin: “Today’s era is not an era of wars.” Putin responded by stating that there are “concerns” that the Indian Prime Minister “constantly expresses” and promised: “We will do everything to ensure that this all stops as quickly as possible.”
Putin previously acknowledged that Xi had expressed “questions and concerns” about the Ukrainian crisis.
The statements made at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit were the clearest public acknowledgment of concern about what is happening in Ukraine on the part of the two largest economies that have not imposed sanctions against Russia. They emphasize that “Putin is increasingly isolating himself from the international community.” US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said: “Even those countries that do not vigorously and vocally oppose him are beginning to wonder what he is doing in Ukraine.”
Putin is trying to develop ties with Asian countries. At the Eastern Economic Forum in early September, he said countries like China could replace Europe as Russia’s trading partner. He didn’t just talk “about changing partners or orientation, he dreams of competing political and economic blocs“, says a Western diplomat working in Moscow.
Another Western diplomat in the Russian capital says the Kremlin is “expecting more” from China, which, although it has stepped up imports of Russian oil, is in no hurry to help Russia in the defense and technology sectors. So far, according to the diplomat, “Chinese companies have either been told not to be active, or they need permission from the very top to do something.”
Analysts point out that although the leaders of India and China expressed concern, neither of them spoke directly about Ukraine or expressed support for it.
“With his statement, Modi achieved what he wanted to achieve,” sent a message to the West that he does not support Putin” says Sushant Singh, senior fellow at the Center for Policy Research in Delhi.