Kyiv, Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that India is a ‘big country’ with ‘big influence’ while answering media queries on what role he thinks the country of 1.4 billion could play in the ongoing 2022 Russo-Ukrainian conflict.
“India will play its role. I think that India has begun to recognise that this is not just a conflict. This is a real war, of one man and his name is Putin, against a whole country, whose name is Ukraine. You are a big country. You have a big influence,” Zelensky said
“PM Modi wants peace more than Putin. The problem is that Putin doesn’t want it,” he said.
He also signalled that India can help end the war by reducing its energy dependency on Russia. “You can stop Putin and halt his economy, and put him really in his place. I suggested PM Modi to host a global peace summit in India,” he further added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Zelensky earlier met as the former embraced Zelensky and the pair held a minute of silence at a memorial commemorating children killed in Russia’s invasion.
“We were not neutral from day one, we have taken a side, and we stand firmly for peace,” he told Zelensky. He earlier said that “no problem should be solved on the battlefield.”
His visit comes as Kyiv’s forces are mounting a major incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, while Moscow’s army is advancing in eastern Ukraine.
Zelensky also said he would be happy to visit India. External affairs minister S Jaishankar in a press conference said that India has extended an invitation to the Ukrainian President.
“Yes (I have plans to visit India) because when you begin a partnership, strategic partnership, and you begin some dialogue. And if our meeting will be in India, I’ll be happy to,” he said.
“Maybe your country can be the key to this diplomatic influence. That’s why I’ll be happy to come to India,” he further added.
‘INDIA HAS INFLUENCED OVER RUSSIA’S ECONOMY’
“We had a concrete and productive meeting and it is a historic moment for both countries. India has influence over the Russian economy. If India stops importing oil, he (Vladimir Putin) will face a huge challenge,” the Ukrainian President said.
He also said that Ukraine remains ready to engage with India in the fields of trade, commerce and business. “We are ready. We are ready to buy. We are ready to produce. We are ready to open your companies here or we are ready to open our companies in India,” he said.
PM Modi emphasised strengthening ties in trade, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, defence, education, science, and culture. He also explored deeper collaboration in digital infrastructure, manufacturing, green energy, and increased business engagement between both nations, as per a press release by the external affairs ministry.
INDIANS DUPED INTO FIGHTING WAR
Zelensky promised that if Indians are found in custody of Ukrainian forces, they will be freed. “With regards to the citizens of India that were tricked to participate in the combat operations – PM Modi started with that, he said that he condemns it and he will make everything possible for the citizens of India not to be fighting in the lines of the Russian Army. If Indians are in Ukrainian custody we will immediately release them,” he said.
‘CAN’T COMPARE UKRAINE, GAZA’
The Ukrainian President urged not to draw parallels between the Ukraine and Russia conflict to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. “We cannot compare our war, the war of Russia against Ukraine, with a crisis in the Middle East,” he said.
He also said that Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for the upcoming US elections and the former US president who has been critical of the Zelensky regime, assured his support for his nation.
“We will see in November, but I didn’t get any signal from him or his team.I have only got a message that he will support Ukraine,” he said.
(Source: NEWS18)
