The Russo-Ukraine war has been going on for more than two months. Since this war, where most of the countries of the world have taken one or the other side, India has maintained its neutrality. That is, India has not taken the side of any country. India has said that it is in favor of peace and has appealed to both Russia and Ukraine to end the war. It has consistently avoided taking a clear position against either of the two countries in the war.
In such a situation, Ukraine has been continuously insisting on putting pressure on Russia from India. On Wednesday, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba once again said that neutrality is a position that does not help prevent war.
‘We shot down the most advanced Russian weapons’
In an exclusive interview with India Today, Dimitro Kuleba said that Russia is not a “reliable” supplier of defense equipment to India as is commonly believed. He said, “Ukraine has effectively destroyed the most advanced Russian weapons on the battlefield. So is it really in India’s interest to buy weapons that cannot survive on the battlefield?” He said that India should choose its trade partners strategically as “India is rising while Russia is in decline”.
“We appreciate the sympathy coming from the Indian leadership for Ukraine,” he said. We also appreciate India’s call to stop the war. But at the same time, I must also say that neutrality in these circumstances is that position which does not help in preventing war. The best way to stop the war is to support Ukraine and leave Russia without the illusion that it can win the war.”
“Therefore, in my view, when you have a clear perpetrator and the victims of his crime before you, it is a morally and politically wise duty to be on the side of the victim,” he said.
Indian leadership will stand on the right side of history – Ukraine
The Ukraine Minister acknowledged that India has an important relationship with Russia. To this Dimitro Kuleba said, “One thing must be kept in mind. This Russia is different from the Russia with which India was developing a special relationship. This Russia tortures, kills, rapes and manipulates.” This Russia is on the verge of a strategic decline. I hope the Indian leadership will stand on the right side of history.” He further said that the Russo-Ukraine war is also a war between a democratic world and an authoritarian one. Therefore, he emphasized that the “most natural option” would be for India to stand by democracy as a large democratic country.