India condemned the killing of civilians in Bucha, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital Khiu (Kyiv), on May 5, and called for an independent investigation. India has so far refrained from criticizing Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Tirumurti, told a Security Council meeting that "the reports of civilian killings in Bucha are indeed tragic" and that he "unequivocally condemns these killings and supports the call for an independent investigation."

Earlier in the day, U.S. Secretary of State William Blinken held telephone talks with Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar. The U.S. has repeatedly urged India to condemn Russia's military aggression.

India, which is heavily dependent on Russian military equipment, has called for a cessation of violence in Ukraine, but has abstained from voting on UN resolutions over the war in Ukraine, out of concern for its relations with both Russia and the West.

[New Delhi, Reuters].