Britain calls on India, China to step up its diplomatic pressure on Russia as Ukraine’s invasion enters 11th day

India and China – both countries that enjoy close ties with Russia – have so far refrained from openly condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab on Sunday called on India and China to help increase diplomatic pressure on Russia as it continued its military onslaught on Ukraine that began over a week ago. "China has got a job here. They've got to step up as well - this is a permanent member of the (UN) Security Council - and India as well. We need to expand the diplomatic pressure," Raab said.

British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab gets out of a car at Downing Street, in London, Britain,  (REUTERS)

India and China – both countries that enjoy close ties with Russia – have so far refrained from openly condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The two countries have also abstained from any resolution passed against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Two days ago, India had abstained from voting at the UN Human Rights Council on the establishment of an independent international inquiry commission in the aftermath of the Russian military operation in Ukraine.

Before that, India had abstained from voting on the UNSC resolution condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, along with China and the UAE.

Raab also called Russia's threat to use nuclear weapons in its invasion of Ukraine as mere “rhetoric”. "I think it’s rhetoric and brinkmanship," news agency Reuters quoted the deputy PM as telling Sky News when he was asked about a possible nuclear escalation by the Kremlin.

"(Putin's) got a track record as long as anyone's arm of misinformation and propaganda ... this is a distraction from what the real issues are at hand - which is that it's an illegal invasion and it is not going according to plan," Raab added.

The British leader also dismissed Putin's statement that likened Western sanctions to a declaration of war.

"Sanctions are not an act of war, international law is very clear about that," he said. "Our sanctions are entirely both legally justified, but also proportionate to what we're trying to deal with."

The fighting between Russia and Kyiv entered the 11th day on Sunday, with as many as 11,000 Russian troops losing lives in the offensive. People who could escape war-torn Ukraine took shelter in Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and elsewhere. Their numbers are expected to reach 1.5 million by the end of the day.