Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday called for a change in the attitudes of Asian countries towards the war in the eastern European country, and urged them follow the example of Europe in condemning Russia for the ongoing war.

Speaking at a press conference, the 44-year-old did not mince his words about the stand NATO had taken on Ukraine: the comedian-turned-wartime-president said that NATO had underestimated Ukraine when it refused to accept the eastern European country as a member, and called the move a “gross mistake.”

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Zelensky went on to say that Ukraine’s resilience against the Russian onslaught had proved its might, and the country’s resolve “managed to change the attitude of the alliance [NATO] and the European member states.”

Zelensky, in the same breath, went on to urge a similar change in attitudes in Asia: “I want very much want the Asian countries to change their attitude to Ukraine as well,” the 44-year-old was quoted as saying by The Hill.

The Ukrainian president’s comments came weeks after several Asian countries abstained from voting for a resolution seeking Russia’s suspension from the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council: while 93 member nations voted for Russia’s suspension and 24 voted against it, 58 countries abstained, including India, Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Omran, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Singapore, and Thailand.

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His comments also come at a time when the US is trying to coax India away from its long-time defence partner, Russia, as well as from Russian energy, in a bid to strengthen the bloc that has united against the Russian invasion.

India, however, has refrained from joining the West-led bandwagon in sanctioning Russia, although it has repeatedly called for a cessation of hostilities in the war-torn eastern European country.