E-Paper
Russia-Ukraine war: India calls for ban on weapons for mass destruction at UN
Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow's foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Kyiv of running chemical and biological labs with American support.
India on Friday reiterated the need to implement biological and toxin weapons convention in full letter and spirit amid fears of the Russia-Ukraine conflict turning into a bio-chemical war.
"We have noted the recent statements by States and wider information regarding biological activities relating to Ukraine. In this context, we would like to underline the importance attached by India to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) as a key global and non-discriminatory disarmament Convention, prohibiting an entire category of weapons of mass destruction," Tirumurti said.
India's concerns emanate from Russian foreign ministry Maria Zakharova's claims accusing Ukraine of running chemical and biological labs with American support.
The US has out rightly rejected Moscow's claims, calling it a potential false flag. Repeating Washington's position that Ukraine does not have a biological weapons program or such laboratories supported by the United States, Washington's envoy to UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said it was Russia that could use chemical or biological agents in Ukraine.
Read: Biden warns direct NATO-Russia clash would trigger 'World War III'
“We sincerely hope the ongoing direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine would lead to cessation of hostilities. There's no other alternative except path of diplomacy and dialogue. The dire humanitarian situation needs immediate and urgent attention,” TS Tirumurti, India's Permanent Representative to UN, said at the Security Council.
(With inputs from Reuters)
