At a recent security conference in Bratislava, the gala dinner was devoted to Ukraine. The tables were named after Ukrainian cities, including Irpin and Bucha. International dignitaries could barely contain their tears when delivering speeches on the war.
A prize was awarded to the Ukrainian people. A Ukrainian singer delighted us with her voice. But the following morning, the Indian foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who had been seated at the main table, took to the stage and admitted that he did not have a view on the conflict. Europe, he said, had to stop thinking its problems were those of the world.
Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month
Content from our partners
