Envoys call on Jakarta, Delhi to lash Moscow

Asia’s two largest democracie’ are demanding respect for sovereignty while ­refusing to name Moscow as the aggressor.

Narendra Modi is heavily reliant on Russia for weapons and missile defence systems critical to the deterrence of neighbouring China and Pakistan.

The Ukrainian government has appealed directly to India and ­Indonesia to condemn Russia’s ­invasion of its territory, calling out the awkward attempts by Asia’s two largest democracies to walk a tightrope by demanding peace and respect for sovereignty while ­refusing to name Moscow as the aggressor.

The two countries – historical leaders of the non-aligned movement – are under increasing pressure to choose sides as Moscow escalates its attacks on its smaller neighbour, and sanctions mount against Russia.

Ukraine’s embassy in Jakarta released an open letter to its host late on Tuesday appealing for support, declaring “Indonesia cannot remain silent as the Russian federation commits crimes against ­humanity day after day in the ­cities and villages of Ukraine”.

“Indonesian people, the current situation is very difficult and painful for us. Therefore we are awaiting your support. We look forward to hearing your strong and courageous voice in our ­defence,” it read.

Ukrainian ambassador Vasyl Hamianin on Wednesday held an online media conference – briefly attacked by Russian hackers who overlayed pornographic and Islamic State videos – to underscore that message. “I sincerely hope that – finally – Indonesia will stand up and speak out strong words of condemnation of Russian aggression and Putin’s aggression. It’s the least every country can do. That’s what I expect,” he said.

Mr Hamianin urged Jakarta to provide tangible support “because we are going to face a humanitarian catastrophe very soon”.

Similar urgent appeals have been made to New Delhi from the Ukrainian ambassador to India, Igor Polikha, and President Volodymyr Zelensky himself, who spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after India abstained – along with China and the United Arab Emirates – from a weekend UN Security Council vote condemning Russia’s invasion.

India and Indonesia are struggling with the difficult balancing act of maintaining relations with Russia and the West, though New Delhi’s dilemma is particularly acute. It is a member of the Quad, whose fellow states US, Australia and Japan have explicitly condemned Russia’s invasion, but heavily reliant on Russia for weapons and missile defence systems critical to its deterrence of neighbouring China and Pakistan.

India also looks to Moscow for diplomatic cover in Security Council resolutions involving disputed Kashmir, and likely fears explicit criticism of Russia’s invasion could push it to forge stronger ties with arch-enemy Pakistan.

Harsh Pant, head of the Observer Research Foundation’s strategic studies program, says India has sharpened its language over Ukraine in recent days, raising concerns over “territorial sovereignty and integrity”, while Mr Modi has urged President Vladimir Putin to end the violence.

It has also begun shipping aid to Ukraine, though its diplomatic juggling act is complicated by the need to evacuate 20,000 Indian students from a conflict zone.

“India is trying to wriggle out of the situation as best it can amid growing sympathy in India for Ukraine, but that doesn’t take away the strategic logic of trying to maintain diplomatic equidistance,” he told The Australian.

“India is one of the few countries that, operationally, needs both Russia and the West.”

Indonesia faces its own pressures as this year’s G20 chair and host of the October summit. While Mr Putin had been expected to attend that meeting, Western nat­ions are now pushing for Russia’s expulsion from the group.

Jakarta has also been shown up by neighbouring Singapore’s fulsome condemnation of Russian aggression this week and announcement of financial sanctions against it. President Joko Widodo has at least called for an end to violence, characteristically, in a tweet that read: ‘Stop the war. War brings misery to mankind and puts the whole world at risk.”

His Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, also appealed on Tuesday for “respect for territorial integrity and respect for sovereignty” and a de-escalation of violence. Hours later, UN envoy Armanatha Nasir hinted that ­Indonesia could be considering a stronger position as part of a small group of UN member states now working on a resolution “regarding aggression in the Ukraine”.