India is speaking to both sides in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the country's Permanent Representative at the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj has said, asserting that New Delhi's position has not been "passive" on the war.

The President of the Security Council for December said India has taken the side of peace and favours de-escalation through diplomacy and dialogue.

India on Thursday assumed the Presidency of the 15-nation UN Security Council for the month of December, during which it will host signature events on countering terrorism and reformed multilateralism.

The Presidency will bring the curtains down on India's two-year tenure as an elected non-permanent member of the powerful UN organ.

'India stands tall and proud'

Responding to a question at a press briefing here on Thursday, Kamboj asserted that New Delhi shares an important relationship with Moscow. "India is too big a country. It stands tall and proud on its own. In the course of the conflict in Ukraine, we have been very clear and consistent right from the outset. We have spoken in one voice that we are for peace. Peace is also a side and we favor diplomacy and dialogue," Kamboj said.

Kamboj was responding to remarks by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that NATO was trying to drag India into what he called an anti-Russian and anti-Chinese alliance and on India's relations with Russia and the West during the Ukraine war.

She said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar are "speaking to both sides".

"We are among the few countries, dare I say, which are speaking to both sides," she said, adding that Modi's comment that "this is not an era of war" has received global acceptance and even found its way into the G20 declaration that was recently adopted in Bali.

'We were always a democracy'

Kamboj, India's first woman Permanent Representative to the UN, will sit in the President's seat at the horse-shoe table. Responding to a question on democracy and freedom of the Press in India, she said "to that I would like to say that, we don't need to be told what to do on democracy.

"India is perhaps the most ancient civilization in the world as all of you know. In India, democracy had roots going back to 2500 years, we were always a democracy. Coming down to very recent times, we have all the pillars of democracy that are intact - legislature, executive, judiciary and the fourth estate, the press. And a very vibrant social media. So the country is the world's largest democracy.

"Every five years we conduct the world's largest democratic exercise. Everyone is free to say as they wish and please and that is how our country functions. It's rapidly reforming, transforming and changing. And the trajectory has been very impressive. And I don't have to say this, you don't have to listen to me. Others are saying this," Kamboj said.

Humanitarian situation

India has been very mindful of the humanitarian situation and has shipped 12 medical consignments to Ukraine and given financial assistance to build educational institutions, she said.

"At the same time, we do have a relationship with Russia, an important relationship with Russia. And as far as the relationship with the United States is concerned, it's a comprehensive strategic partnership, which has never been closer, tighter, or stronger than it is today," she said.

When asked if India does not feel like NATO is trying to drag it into an anti-Russian or anti-Chinese alliance, Kamboj said, "I've just answered your question. We are a country that stands tall and proud and stands tall and proud on its own."

On India's approach as the UNSC President towards dealing with the issue of Ukraine, she said: "we will continue to engage with all parties".

'Voice of moderation'"I think that is one of our strengths and it has been recognised as one of our strengths that we are a voice of moderation, a voice of reason and a bridge-builder. And we will walk the talk in the December presidency," Kamboj said.

Responding to a question on if enough is being done to bring Ukrainians and Russians to the negotiating table, Kamboj said, "definitely there is an attempt and everything is not played out in the public domain as you can understand."

"Parties are talking, people are talking, and everybody wants to de-escalate the situation. And we very much hope that sooner or later, this effort to de-escalate will succeed," she said.

She noted that India "has been talking to both sides, is talking to both sides" and hopes that the situation de-escalates.

No comment on Ukraine remarks

Kamboj did not answer the question on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's remarks at the high-level UNGA session on some member states taking a neutral stance, saying it is not for her to comment on that statement.

"Our country has not been passive. Our country has stated very clearly that we have a position - that is we have taken the side of peace and we favor diplomacy and dialogue and we favor de-escalation and an early end to the conflict," she said.

India has also condemned the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure in the course of the conflict, no matter who commits this. New Delhi has stated very clearly that this conflict has had an immense impact and suffering on countries of the global South.

"And there, we've not been idle either. We have extended a helping hand despite constraints in our own country, helping Ukraine, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Sudan, Yemen and Sri Lanka," she said.

'We are creative, caring, contributory'

"So by any standard, this is not the stand of a country that is passive. This is the stand of a country that is creative, caring, contributory, that is willing to bring solutions to the global top table," she said.

Kamboj stressed that India has been very conscious of the fact that the conflict has had a very severe impact on the global South. "There has, in fact, been collateral damage there and we have stated this, unhesitatingly so, in all our statements," she said.

India has been ready to help its friends and partners in need and going forward, it will continue to do so, she asserted.

Kamboj said Ukraine is very much a focused matter in the Security Council and the UN body could meet during the month on the issue.

Noting that while a meeting or briefing on Ukraine is not yet listed in the Council's schedule for the month, Kamboj said "rest assured the Security Council is very seized" of the matter and one should not be too surprised if it finds its way into the schedule.