At the Raisina Dialogue 2025 in New Delhi on March 18, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor conceded that his initial criticism of India’s neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine war was misplaced. Reflecting on his previous stance, Tharoor admitted that he was “wiping egg off his face” as he realized that India’s pragmatic foreign policy had placed it in a unique position of global influence.
Shashi Tharoor recalled how, in February 2022, during a parliamentary debate, he was among those who criticized the Indian government’s decision to maintain relations with Russia while avoiding a direct condemnation of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. At the time, he had argued that India should stand firm on its long-held principles of upholding the sovereignty of nations and opposing the use of force to resolve international conflicts.
“I am still wiping the egg off my face because I was one person in the parliamentary debate who actually criticized the Indian position at the time back in February 2022,” Shashi Tharoor remarked during the discussion. He justified his earlier stance by emphasizing that Russia had violated the UN Charter, infringed upon Ukraine’s sovereignty, and broken the principle of inviolability of borders. Given India’s longstanding foreign policy stance on respecting territorial integrity, Tharoor had expected that New Delhi would outright condemn Russia’s actions.
However, three years later, Shashi Tharoor acknowledged that India’s neutral and strategic approach had paid off, allowing it to be a respected friend of both Russia and Ukraine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has managed to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape, maintaining strong relations with Moscow while also engaging positively with Kyiv. This diplomatic balancing act has ensured that India remains a trusted interlocutor for both parties and could even play a significant role in future peace negotiations.
“Well, 3 years later, it does look like I am the one with egg on my face because clearly the policy has meant that India has actually a Prime Minister who can hug both the president of Ukraine and the president of Moscow two weeks apart and be accepted in both places,” Tharoor admitted. He went on to acknowledge that very few nations today enjoy such diplomatic leverage, and India’s ability to engage with both warring nations positions it as a potential mediator for a lasting peace settlement.
