'Don't Patronize Us, We Know What To Do': Indian Envoy At UN To Dutch Ambassador On India's Stance Over Russia-Ukraine War

India's permanent representative to the United Nations T S Tirumurti on Friday (6 May) slammed Dutch envoy to United Kingdom and Northern Ireland Karel van Oosterom after the latter said that India should respect the UN charter.

The war of words between the two diplomats broke out after Ambassador Tirumurti shared India's statement on UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine on Twitter.

Responding to the statement, Ambassador Oosterom tweeted, "You should not have abstained in the GA (General Assembly). Respect the UN Charter."

Replying to the Dutch enovy's tweet, Ambassador Tirumurti said, “Kindly don’t patronize us Ambassador. We know what to do.”

In the statement at UNSC on Thursday (5 May), India said that it has been consistently calling for complete cessation of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.

"India remains on the side of the peace and therefore believes that there will be no winning side in this conflict and while those impacted by this conflict would continue to suffer, diplomacy will be a lasting casualty," the statement said.

It should be noted that in March this year, India had abstained from a UNGA resolution criticising Russian actions in Ukraine.

Earlier last month, India and 57 other countries also abstained from a resolution adopted by the UNGA to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council.