““Information about deliveries appeared against the background of complications in Russian-Indian bilateral relations””, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
“The information about the shipments came amid complications in Russian-Indian bilateral relations and after Modi’s visit to Ukraine on August 23, during which Modi emphasized the principles of international law, including sovereignty and territorial integrity, in a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Modi’s comments with Zelensky differ from his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 9, during which Modi made rather vague statements about peace,” analysts write.
Reuters, citing 11 Indian and European government officials and unnamed defense industry sources, reported on September 19 that Ukraine had been receiving Indian artillery shells purchased through European intermediaries for more than a year, despite Russia’s objections. New Delhi reportedly did not intervene to stop the trade, despite protests from Moscow.
At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India on September 19 rejected the Reuters report as “speculative and misleading.”
Read also: Modi in Kyiv: India is ready to make its proactive contribution to efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his first visit to Ukraine in August. During the visit, he stated that India advocates achieving peace in Ukraine through diplomatic means, while respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state.
As Bloomberg reported on the eve of the visit, Modi decided to visit Kyiv to try to balance ties with Washington and Moscow, but ruled out the role of a mediator in ending the Russian war in Ukraine.
However, according to journalists, India agreed to pass the message between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin.
On July 8 and 9, Indian Prime Minister Modi visited Russia. According to the information of the Indian mass media, he agreed with the Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the release from the Russian army of Indian citizens who were tricked into the war against Ukraine.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Modi’s visit to Moscow. On the morning of July 9, the Ukrainian leader declared that “it is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world’s largest democracy embrace the world’s bloodiest criminal in Moscow on such a day” (referring to the combined missile attack on July 8, which aimed , in particular, became the “Okhmatdyt” children’s hospital).
India, despite its increasingly close relationship with Washington, has refused to join Western sanctions against Moscow, instead partnering with Russia as a cheaper source of oil.