Representatives of India and China at Tuesday’s United Nations (UN) Security Council meeting called for peace and dialogue and condemned attacks on civilians as Russia continues its onslaught against Ukraine.

Both countries are members of Brics alongside Russia, South Africa and Brazil.

The African National Congress- (ANC-) led government has subsequently been accused of fence-sitting on the matter to keep its longtime ally, Russia’s president Vladimir Putin, onside.

More than a month ago, Russia invaded Ukraine in what Putin referred to as a special operation to eliminate what he called a serious threat. Putin said his aim was to demilitarise Russia's southern neighbour.

Ukrainian officials recently said the bodies of at least 410 civilians have been found in towns around Kyiv that were recaptured from Russian forces in recent days.

Indian representative at the meeting Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti has unequivocally condemned the killings in Ukraine and said his county supports the call for an independent investigation.

Tirumurti said India has been sending humanitarian supplies to Ukraine and its neighbours. More supplies will be shipped to Ukraine in the coming days.

“India continues to remain deeply concern at the worsening situation and reiterates its calls for the immediate cessation of violence and an end to hostilities. We have emphasised from the beginning of the conflict the need to pursue the path of diplomacy and dialogue. When innocent human lives are at stake diplomacy must prevail as the only viable option,” he said. 

As the impact of the crisis has been felt in many developing countries through increasing food and energy costs, it is in the collective interest of the UN to work constructively with other organisation to seek an early resolution to the conflict, he said.

Tirumurti reiterated that humanitarian action must always be guided by humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.

These measures, he said should never be politicised.

Meanwhile, China’s envoy to the UN, Ambassador Zhang Jun said the reports of dead bodies in Bucha, in Ukraine, are disturbing and called for the circumstances to be verified.

He condemned attacks against civilians in Ukraine.

He said de-escalating the tension in Ukraine and ending the fighting is the urgent expectation of the international community, including China.

Jun said China believes that dialogue and negotiation is the only way to achieve peace.

He called on Ukraine and Russia to stick to the general direction of peace negotiations to overcome difficulties and differences.

He urged the international community to create favourable conditions and an environment for negotiations between the two sides, as well as an open space for political settlement.

He said the international community should not set up roadblocks to increase resistance to peace, or add fuel to the fire to aggravate confrontations.

“Every effort should be made to prevent the escalation of the localised conflict. China attaches great importance to the humanitarian issue in Ukraine and supports all initiatives and measures conducive to alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine,” he said.

As the conflict continues, China called on Russia and Ukraine to abide by international humanitarian law, to protect the safety of civilians and their facilities and minimise civilian casualties and ensure a safe, smooth evacuation and access to humanitarian corridors, as well as guarantee the basic rights of women, children and fighters.

Jun called for international humanitarian organisations to maintain assistance to Ukraine and its neighbouring countries to save lives and protect civilians.

He said China has provided and will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and its neighbouring countries.

He called on the US and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to engage in dialogues with Russia.