Russia’s ongoing military intervention in Ukraine has sent the world on tenterhooks. With the west intervening, on behalf of Ukraine, and forcing Russia on the back foot, theories have been planted about the possible use of nuclear weapons.
During a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, Union Defence minister Rajnath Singh reiterated the need for dialogue and diplomacy and urged him to avoid nuclear options.
The conversation took place on the initiative of the Russian defence minister and against the backdrop of Russia’s operation in Ukraine entering the winter months.
“Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh held a telephone conversation with the Defence Minister of the Russian Federation, Sergei Shoigu, on October 26, 2022, at the latter’s request. During the telecon, both Ministers discussed bilateral defence cooperation as well as the deteriorating situation in Ukraine,” the Indian defence ministry said in a statement.
“Defence Minister Shoigu briefed the Raksha Mantri on the evolving situation in Ukraine, including his concerns about possible provocations through the use of ‘dirty bomb’,” the statement added.
The statement added that Singh, however, reiterated India’s position on the need to pursue the path of dialogue and diplomacy for an early resolution of the conflict.
“Rajnath Singh reiterated India’s position on the need to pursue the path of dialogue and diplomacy for an early resolution of the conflict. He pointed out that the nuclear option should not be resorted to by any side as the prospect of the usage of nuclear or radiological weapons goes against the basic tenets of humanity,” the statement added.
In recent times, there has been an intensification of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, with Moscow carrying out retaliatory missile strikes targeting various Ukrainian cities in response to a huge blast in Crimea nearly two weeks ago. Moscow blamed Kiev for the blast.
Amid a fresh wave of hostilities between the two nations, the Indian embassy in Ukraine has asked Indian nationals to leave the country at the earliest.