‘Egg On My Face’: Shashi Tharoor On Opposing India’s Stance On Russia-Ukraine War

Last Updated:March 19, 2025, 08:41 IST

Shashi Tharoor admitted he was wrong in opposing India’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, now believing India’s policy positions it to influence lasting peace

The Congress MP said the policy adopted by India following the outbreak of the conflict meant that the country has actually a prime minister who can hug both the president of Ukraine and the president in Moscow two weeks apart and be accepted in both places. (File photo)

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor Tuesday said he was left with an egg on his face in opposing India’s stance when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out and said due to the policy that was adopted, the country is now in a position where it can make a difference for lasting peace.

Tharoor criticized India’s position when Russia invaded Ukraine, calling for a condemnation of the aggression. The Congress MP pointed out that India’s approach to the conflict allowed the country to have a prime minister who could visit both the Ukrainian and Russian presidents two weeks apart and be welcomed in both capitals.

During an interactive session at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, the former Minister of State for External Affairs admitted, “I am still wiping the egg off my face because I was one of the few in the parliamentary debate who criticised India’s position back in February 2022.”

The Thiruvananthapuram MP explained that his criticism was based on well-established principles, such as the violation of the UN charter, the principle of inviolability of borders, and Ukraine’s sovereignty. He emphasised that India had historically opposed the use of force to resolve international disputes, and all these principles were breached by one party, which should have been condemned.

Three years later, Tharoor acknowledged that the policy now seems to have been validated, as India’s prime minister was able to maintain good relations with both the Ukrainian and Russian leaders.

Tharoor added that India is in a unique position to influence lasting peace, given its global standing and its geographical distance from Europe. He mentioned that while he couldn’t speak for the government as an opposition member, if a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine were to emerge, India might be open to sending peacekeepers.

He noted that since Russia had rejected European peacekeepers from NATO countries, other nations, like India, could play a role. “Speaking as an Indian parliamentarian, I don’t think there would be significant resistance to that idea,” Tharoor stated, recalling the opposition in 2003 when India was asked to send troops to Iraq after the American invasion.

Tharoor clarified that he didn’t foresee similar resistance for Ukraine, and if peace were reached, India might consider contributing peacekeepers. He also highlighted India’s long-standing commitment to global stability, citing the country’s participation in over 49 peacekeeping missions.