Ukraine's foreign minister concludes talks in India, focused on trade and conflict with Russia

The foreign minister of Ukraine wrapped up a major visit to the capital of India on Friday. The talks centered on enhancing commercial ties and resolving the current issue with Russia, India's longtime ally.

Despite India's longstanding historical connections with Russia and its hesitation to publicly denounce Moscow's incursion into Ukraine, the discussions between Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba emphasized a shared commitment to strengthening bilateral relationships.

"Our immediate goal is to get trade back to earlier levels," Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar said in a social media message, highlighting the common objective of restoring commerce to pre-conflict levels.

In agreement, Minister Kuleba voiced hope for getting the two countries' relations back to pre-war levels and forging new paths for cooperation.

Based on ties formed during the Cold War, New Delhi's relationship with Moscow is still strong, since Russia is India's principal armaments supplier. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated President Vladimir Putin on his reelection, highlighting the goal of deepening their "special" bond.

But since the start of the crisis in Ukraine, Modi's administration has come under fire for continuing to buy Russian crude oil, a move seen as enhancing Moscow's financial standing. Although controversial, Kuleba's claim that every barrel of Russian oil involves a "good portion of Ukrainian blood" has now been softened by a more accommodative stance.

Minister Kuleba said in an interview with NDTV that transacting oil in Indian rupees would lessen the financial backing for Russian military operations.

As a result of recent territorial concessions to Russian troops, Ukraine is now dealing with increasing pressure on its front lines. Kyiv plans to host a meeting of world leaders this year to push for the removal of Russian soldiers from Ukrainian territory in an attempt to win support for its peace initiatives on a global scale.

Source: AFP