External Affairs Minister Jaishankar Addresses Western Criticism of Modi’s Diplomatic Gestures
New Delhi, 23rd August 2024: New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi embraced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during their meeting in Kyiv today, where they discussed various issues, including the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict. This follows a similar gesture by PM Modi over a month ago during his visit to Russia, where he also hugged President Vladimir Putin.
The conflict between the armed forces of President Zelensky and President Putin has been intense for over two years. India’s historical relationship with both Ukraine and Russia is deep-rooted, and PM Modi’s previous embrace of President Putin faced criticism from Western media and leaders.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, a former diplomat, commented on what he sees as a misunderstanding by the West regarding the nature of PM Modi’s interactions with both leaders. “Cultural differences may contribute to the West’s misinterpretation of these gestures. Today, Zelensky also embraced PM Modi,” said Jaishankar.
Moscow remains a crucial supplier of oil and weapons to India. The discussions between PM Modi and President Zelensky primarily focused on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In addition to their meeting, India and Ukraine signed four agreements today to enhance cooperation in agriculture, the food industry, medicine, culture, and humanitarian aid. This visit by PM Modi marks the first time an Indian Prime Minister has travelled to Ukraine since its independence in 1991, and it comes amid Ukraine’s new military operations in Russia’s western Kursk region.
