Egypt so far avoids direct condemnation of Russia over Ukraine

Egypt has refrained from condemning the Russian military attack in Ukraine or mentioning Russia by name in its first reaction to the conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a military operation in Ukraine Feb. 24, in the biggest assault on a European country since World War II. The attack came amid tensions between Russia and the West over plans to admit the former Soviet republic into NATO.

Observers opine that Egypt has been very careful in its comments regarding the Russian military attack in Ukraine and declined to criticize Moscow publicly to avoid any harm to its growing economic and military relations with Russia.

Samir Ragheb, a retired brigadier general and head of the Arab Foundation for Development and Strategic Studies, said Cairo does not want to anger Russia, the United States or NATO.