Happymon Jacob: India is gradually changing its attitude to the war in favour of Ukraine

India is changing its attitude to Russia's war in Ukraine and is gradually coming around to the idea that this war should end as soon as possible.

The statement was made by Happymon Jacob, Founder, Honorary Director, Council for Strategic and Defence Research; Associate Professor, Centre for International Politics, Organisation and Disarmament, Jawaharlal Nehru University, in his speech at the Annual meeting of the Yalta European Strategy (YES) "The Future is Being Decided in Ukraine" organised by YES in partnership with the Victor Pinchuk Foundation.

"India initially viewed this war through the prism of U.S. policy against Russia. But this view is already changing. Now there is a growing understanding in India that this war must end, although this change in view is slow. India does not change very fast," Happymon Jacob stressed.

India’s position is changing because it is looking at this war of aggression from a position of national interest. "The fact that China and Russia are getting closer is something that really worries India," explained the Associate Professor at the Centre for International Politics, Organisation and Disarmament, Jawaharlal Nehru University.

According to him, trade between Russia and India has been significantly declining in recent times. Happymon Jacob was confident that India was in a position to be helpful in the back-channels – to play some limited role between Ukraine and Russia. 

"India should play its cards as an arbitrator in this conflict. India should push the Russians to go back to the grain deal," the Founder and Honorary Director of the Council for Strategic and Defence Research stressed.