Ukraine asks India to reduce military, energy dependence on Russia

Sandeep Dikshit

New Delhi, April 10

Visiting Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova on Monday called on India to be pragmatic by diversifying its political interactions, and energy and military resources. Dzhaparova, a rare political visitor from Ukraine, was on Sunday speaking to the media after a meeting with MEA’s Secretary (West) Sanjay Verma.

“We only think that it’s crucial to diversify resources, not only energy, but military resources because what we see in my country (is that) when you are dependent on Russia, they will blackmail,” she added.

“Discussed bilateral engagements and cooperation going forward. Wishing her a good trip. Her first as DFM, but a country she is familiar with,” tweeted Verma.

“India should be pragmatic in diversifying its energy resources, military contracts and political interactions. PM Modi’s policy of democracy, dialogue and diversity and ‘no era of war’ and strategic application is really important,” she said.

This is the first official visit by a Ukraine Minister to India since Russia launched the full scale invasion on February 24, 2022 although PM Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar have met their counterparts but in third countries.

Dzhaparova made no mention of Kyiv’s reported desire to invite PM Modi to Ukraine which is interpreted in strategic circles as a move to earn an invite to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the upcoming G20 summit in India or at least the Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba who in December had India’s statements at UNSC that if India has not condemned Russia for the war, it is also providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

“It was a great meeting..hope political conversation will be intensified …..I briefed the Deputy Minister (Sanjay Verma) about the military situation, which is quite difficult when 10,000 Ukrainians have been killed. These are civilians and the civilian infrastructure has been damaged and broken and by the missiles attacks,” she said, while adding that, “we are not in the position of instructing India”.

The Minister’s comments have come in the light of the fact that India has repeatedly abstained from voting against Russia at all international fora against Moscow’s ongoing invasion of Kyiv.

“India is a Vishwaguru..the war we have is not about NATO, US, it’s about justice..Your PM in Samarkand said this is not an era of war,” she added.