Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister seeks India's help to end war with Russia

Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova said people in her nation are closely watching what world leaders have to say about the Russia-Ukraine war and that they are especially banking on India to lead from the front and live up to its G20 motto 'One Earth. One Family. One Future.'

Emine Dzhaparova is the first high-ranking Ukrainian official to visit India ever since the Russia-Ukraine war broke out on February 24 last year.

She was delivering a lecture on 'Russia's War on Ukraine: Why the world should care?' at the ICWA in New Delhi on Tuesday where she highlighted the sufferings of the people back home due to 'Russia's unprovoked aggression.'

"People in Ukraine are watching very closely what world leaders are saying. We have watched PM Narendra Modi speak on the issue and how the Indian National Security Advisor has made three trips to Moscow... We hope that they will travel to Ukraine as well," said Emine Dzhaparova.

"We inaugurated a statue of Mahatma Gandhi on the 150th anniversary and there are some in Crimea who follow his principle of Satyagraha--fighting for our rights without use of violence," said the Deputy Foreign Minister.

"We did military business with Pakistan in the 90s but that should not impact ties with India. I am here with one very



important message that Ukraine really wants India and Ukraine to come closer. It’s time to, in a good sense, restart the relationship...the relationship needs reciprocity," said Emine Dzhaparova.

Stating how India has a role to play to initiate the peace process by way of dialogue and diplomacy, the Ukraine minister said, "We hope to see NSA Ajit Doval in Ukraine and build a security architecture."

Emine Dzhaparova also underscored the role that the US has to play in the Russia-Ukraine war. "The role of the US is huge. In India, there is a narrative that this is a war between Russia and the US. I don't subscribe to it. It is a war between Ukraine and Russia. And we are ready to take any help that we get."

She also met Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi and handed her a letter from Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking India's intervention in the Russia-Ukraine war. The two leaders also exchanged views on bilateral and global issues of mutual interest. Cultural ties and women empowerment also figured in the discussion.

The Deputy Foreign Minister also said that given the current scenario, there was no time for Ukraine to look east or west and that soon, the nation would be a part of the European Union and the North-Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).