Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine has threatened to both destabilize Europe and pull the United States into what is considered the most consequential security confrontation the region has faced since the Cold War.
Many world leaders, including those of Canada, the U.S., Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan and Colombia, have condemned the attack on Ukraine. has voiced explicit support for Russia. But a number of countries, especially those in a delicate dance between the West and Russia, have also taken a more ambiguous or softer stance, or not commented at all. Here is a look at what some countries have said.
Belarus: President Alexander Lukashenko has insisted he is not getting involved in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and , but Russian troops in the country 鈥� Belarus has been hosting about 30,000 soldiers 鈥� were allowed to enter Ukraine by border guards, while many of the country鈥檚 assets, from fueling stations to air defence systems, have been made available to Moscow, magazine.
Brazil: The South American country has refused to outright condemn Putin鈥檚 actions, instead taking a more neutral position saying it was monitoring the situation with 鈥済reat concern鈥� and 鈥渋mmediate suspension of hostilities and the beginning of negotiations leading to a diplomatic solution.鈥� The country鈥檚 Foreign Affairs Ministry that it would 鈥渘ot contribute to beating the drums of war.鈥� President Jair Bolsonaro had visited Russian President Vladimir Putin a week earlier, and voiced solidarity with Russia. He , Hamilton Mourao, for speaking on the conflict, saying only the president should do so. Mourao had for Ukraine and the use of force, comparing Putin鈥檚 actions to Hitler.
China: President Xi Jinping and Putin met just before the 2022 Beijing Olympics kicked off in early February. At the time, the two leaders issued a joint statement which saw both leaders express a 鈥� and support for their respective foreign policy positions including Putin鈥檚 opposition to NATO expansion in Europe and China鈥檚 One China principle with respect to Taiwan. Since Russia鈥檚 invasion into Ukraine, China has avoided condemning Putin鈥檚 actions, instead expressing hope for peace through dialogue. Beijing, which many could provide economic support to Russia amid sanctions, has instead blamed the U.S. for 鈥溾�� as well as NATO鈥檚 eastward expansion in Europe. According to Chinese state TV, Xi expressed China鈥檚 support for Russia and Ukraine to resolve their problems through negotiations.
India: Like many countries with close ties to the West and Russia, India finds itself in a difficult position. The country is to condemn Putin鈥檚 aggression, but so far has to join economic sanctions. The Asian country has fostered increasingly strong ties with the U.S. but it also for much of its advanced weapons. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spoke with Putin not long after the attacks were launched, wanted to see 鈥渃oncerted efforts from all sides to return to the path of diplomatic negotiations.鈥�
Israel: Language used by Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on the conflict has been described as 鈥溾�� by some, with Bennett praying for peace and calm in Ukraine and offering humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians, saying 鈥�.鈥� Bennett made no mention of Russia in his statement. Earlier, however, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid had unequivocally condemned the attacks, calling it a 鈥渟erious violation of the international order鈥�. Still, Israeli media like Haaretz that 鈥淟apid devoted only one sentence to the denunciation, and spent most of his statement emphasizing the fact that Israel has strong ties to both Russia and Ukraine.鈥� The Times of Israel noted Israel鈥檚 difficulty 鈥溾�� in the conflict.
Pakistan: Putin hosted Prime Minister Imran Khan in a meeting in Moscow 鈥� the first such visit by a Pakistani leader in more than two decades 鈥� hours before Russian troops began their invasion into Ukraine. The pre-scheduled visit had nothing to do with the conflict, officials in Pakistan said, but the timing was described as a 鈥渄iplomatic disaster鈥� for a country that has said it wishes to maintain positive ties with the U.S. and China, . In issued after the meeting, Khan expressed regret over the conflict and said that Pakistan believed disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
Serbia: Moscow and Belgrade have had positive relations, and the Serbian government is considered 鈥減ro-Russia鈥�, but it has also tried to with the West. Serbian media supportive of the government have against Ukraine and the government has rejected calls to join sanctions, but it did say that Russia鈥檚 attack was against international law. President Aleksandar Vucic said it respects the norms of international law, but that it also has 鈥渋ts own interests.鈥� Vucic had previously voiced concern over Putin鈥檚 recognition of independence for two Ukrainian provinces, Donetsk and Luhansk.
Turkey: A NATO member since 1952 with close ties to Russia, Turkey has found itself caught in a tight spot as Ukraine asked the country to from accessing the Black Sea through the Dardanelles and Bosphorus straits that are under Turkish control. The country has yet to make a decision, but that it will not be able to prevent ships from returning to their home base in the Black Sea. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticized NATO for allowing the situation to escalate and expressed regret over the conflict.
Venezuela: The South American country is a close Russian ally and prior to the invasion, its president said it supported Russia. Like China, it places blame on the U.S. and NATO for the escalation of events, but at the same time, expressed worry over the crisis and has urged a diplomatic dialogue. Other countries in Latin America, a , have also taken mixed positions, with some critical of the use of force without explicitly calling for Russia to leave, .
