Why This Joint Franco-German-UK Op-Ed In TOI Has Triggered A Frenzy In Delhi Ahead Of Putin’s Visit | World News

New Delhi: A few days before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s scheduled arrival in India, controversy broke out over a joint article written by the German and French ambassadors together with the British high commissioner. The article, published in The Times of India on December 1, was not received well in diplomatic circles; Many former ambassadors said the timing could not have been more provocative.

The column titled ‘The world wants the Ukrainian war to end, but Russia does not seem serious about peace’, written by German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann, French Ambassador Thierry Mathou and British High Commissioner Lindy Cameron, immediately attracted attention.

The opening lines set the tone of the article. The Ukrainian people have defended their country with courage and determination for more than three years, three diplomats wrote.

“Russia can end this war immediately by withdrawing its forces and stopping its illegal aggression, or at least by agreeing to a ceasefire, entering into negotiations, and ending hostilities,” they wrote.

“But in 2025, Russian attacks intensified, and since peace talks began, President Putin has carried out 22 attacks, the largest of the entire war.”

Throughout his writings, Russia was repeatedly identified as the main driver of the ongoing conflict. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they highlighted an earlier statement he made: “The world agrees that the war must stop. India has also made this clear. Prime Minister Modi said that no solution can be found on the battlefield.”

India, meanwhile, expressed displeasure over the consensus view, with the Ministry of External Affairs calling it “unusual” and “unacceptable”.

‘It is unacceptable to publicly advise India on relations with another country,’ MEA officials said after the envoys of the UK, France and Germany wrote the anti-Putin article just 3 days before the Russian President arrived in Delhi on a state visit. @janusmyth reportshttps://t.co/HWkNIrnLDL— Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) December 3, 2025

Question About Timing and Intent

Kanwal Sibal, who served as Russia’s foreign minister and ambassador, unambiguously criticized the article, calling it a “violation of diplomatic norms” and a “diplomatic insult to India”.

He wrote on

He continued: “This is interference in our internal affairs as the aim is to fan anti-Russian sentiments in pro-European circles in India and question the morality of our ties with Russia. The envoys of these three countries are free to express their views to the MEA at an official initiative but they should not demonstrate publicly with overt propaganda intent.”

He did not spare the newspaper either. He said, “It is completely wrong for TOI to agree to publish this article. This is deliberately harming our diplomacy and national interests. MEA should clearly express its displeasure over the violation of diplomatic norms by the three envoys.”

This outrageous article against Russia just before Putin’s state visit to India violated diplomatic norms is a diplomatic insult to India as it questions India’s close ties with a very friendly third country.

Since the purpose is to incite, it is an intervention in our internal affairs… https://t.co/oN5E2iLqT5— Kanwal Sibal (@KanwalSibal) December 1, 2025

If ToI comes, IE may be left far behind.

IE interviews the Polish Deputy Foreign Minister today.

Knowing Poland’s deep hatred for Russia, IE asks him how he views Putin’s visit to India and what he expects India to convey to Putin.

The purpose of these questions is Polish… — Kanwal Sibal (@KanwalSibal) December 2, 2025

Sibal also expressed his displeasure over ANI interviewing the German ambassador during preparations for Putin’s visit.

“It is difficult to understand why ANI made a special effort to provide a platform for the German Ambassador to voice anti-Russian statements just before Putin’s visit. The mentality of our press at times resembles the mentality of a banana republic,” he said.

“There is no need for the German Ambassador to tell our leaders what to say to Putin. We oppose the war in Ukraine, but we also know that Europe seeks peace only through military force. Instead, the ambassador should be asked why Germany continues to provide arms and financial aid to Ukraine and why it is again on the path to conflict with Russia, despite the atrocities committed by Nazi Germany against Russia in the past.”

It is puzzling why ANI is openly trying to give the German ambassador the opportunity to make the usual Russia attack just before Putin’s visit.

Our press has the mentality of belonging to a banana republic.

There is no need for the German ambassador to tell our leaders what to say… https://t.co/5FgMytVZae— Kanwal Sibal (@KanwalSibal) December 2, 2025

Media Selections Reviewed

The criticisms did not end there. Firstpost’s senior editor Sriymoy Talukdar argued that the article should never have been published in a Hindi publication at such a sensitive moment.

“This article should not have been published in any Indian media outlet during Putin’s visit. It is a clear attempt to interfere in India’s foreign policy and appears to have been written with the aim of embarrassing India ahead of the Russian President’s arrival,” he wrote.

According to him, “India is not the platform for European moral discourse against Russia. The article is in extremely poor taste and so is the decision of an Indian publication to feature it.”

As Putin’s visit approaches, the article by British high commissioner Lindy Cameron and two others should not have been published in the Indian media.
The article is a clear attempt to interfere in India’s foreign policy and is written with the intention of shaming… — Sreemoy Talukdar (@sreemoytalukdar) December 1, 2025

His criticism prompted a swift response from The Hindu’s diplomatic affairs editor, Suhasini Haidar. He opposed the criticism, “Why is the media being targeted here? It is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ job to decide whether a protocol has been violated.”

Why are you blaming the media here? MEA will decide whether the protocol has been violated or not… https://t.co/v5Qy00889O— Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) December 2, 2025

The Russian Ambassador is now responding to the columns of the British, German and French Ambassadors.

Indian media is the new battleground of the “war of Europe”. https://t.co/8LvJJ4AyrY— Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) December 3, 2025

‘Not a Protocol Violation, But With Taste’

Ranjit Rae, former ambassador to Nepal and Vietnam, offered a more measured view when asked by the BBC whether the article amounted to a breach of diplomatic protocol.

“I don’t think it’s a violation of protocol, but it is true that when an important guest arrives, it is frowned upon to say such things just before the visit. This is frowned upon. Europe has problems with Russia, but Europe’s problems do not automatically become the world’s problems. Even then, in a democratic country, there must be room for welcome and criticism.”

Another diplomat, who previously served as India’s Ambassador to France, echoed Rae’s thoughts, speaking to the BBC on condition of anonymity.

“It’s not a breach of protocol, but it’s certainly not in good taste. Think of it this way: If I were the Indian ambassador to the US and the Pakistani prime minister came with his Chief of Staff, our government would want a negative atmosphere around them. We could try using the local press. If a newspaper agreed to give coverage, we would write something. The second question is whether Indian media should feature European diplomats in Putin’s case.”

Geopolitical Signal Behind Putin’s Visit

Strategic relations expert Brahma Chellaney believes the timing of Putin’s trip carries a much deeper message to the world.

In his post on

He added: “India has seen how Western policies have pushed Russia further into China’s arms through sanctions and weaponization of financial instruments beyond SWIFT. Even then, Putin’s visit, his first since the start of the Ukraine war, shows that Russia still sees options beyond China and is not looking to become a ‘junior partner’.”

‘Europe’s Problems Are Not the World’s Problems’

Chellaney also pointed out that India is sending its own message. “At a time when the US under Trump is disrespectful to India, New Delhi is neither isolating Russia nor imposing Western sanctions that restrict its strategic autonomy. By hosting Putin, India makes clear that it rejects the West’s ‘you are with us or against us’ idea and will choose its own path.”

In a world divided into rival blocs, Putin’s December 4-5 visit to New Delhi is not just a diplomatic break; this is a powerful geopolitical statement. Gezi is set to deliver major deals, including new payment channels designed to bypass the SWIFT system… — Dr. Brahma Chellaney (@Chellaney) December 2, 2025

This theme has also appeared in India’s foreign policy discourse before. In June 2022, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said at a conference in Bratislava: “Europe has grown up with the mentality that its problems are the world’s problems, but the world’s problems are not Europe’s problems.”

Later, Jindal Global Law School Professor Prabhash Ranjan related Jaishankar’s words to Jawaharlal Nehru’s historic speech at the United Nations General Assembly on November 3, 1948.

Nehru said, “I am also interested in solving the problems of Europe. But I also want to say that the world extends beyond Europe. You cannot solve your problems with the belief that the problems of Europe are the main problem of the world. The conversation must be holistic. If you ignore even some of the problems of the world, you do not really understand them. I am speaking here as a representative of Asia, which is a part of this world.”

The then German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, would later refer to Jaishankar’s words at the Munich Security Conference in February 2023: “The Indian foreign minister has a point. But if the rules are not strictly enforced in international relations, this will not remain only Europe’s problem.”