During his upcoming visit to India, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will seek to win the country over to the Western position.
These included China and India, which together are home to some 2.8 billion people, more than one-third of the world's population.
While the Western alliance expected such a stance from autocratic China, the behavior of democratic India was a major disappointment.
The Indian government's course did not only mean that the country was no ally in attempts to put pressure on Russia's Vladimir Putin.
It also meant that India, which Germany sees as a "strategic partner", was on the "wrong" side of this elementary question of international law.
Voting result in UN General Assembly on the anniversary of Russia's invasion in Ukraine: India also abstained Image: John Minchillo/AP/picture alliance.
Military parade in New Delhi featuring BrahMos guided weapons jointly developed by India and Russia Image: Stringer/ Photoshot/picture alliance. »
