S Jaishankar responds to criticism of PM Modi’s embrace of Vladimir Putin

S Jaishankar rebuked the ‘criticism’ of PM Narendra Modi hugging Russian President Vladimir Putin. Notably, Prime Minister Modi visited Russia last month. He was welcomed by President Vladimir Putin and the two leaders warmly embraced each other. This drew criticism from some sections of Western media as well as from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who termed it a “devastating blow to peace efforts.”

“In our part of the world, when people meet people, they are given to embracing each other. It may not be part of your culture, but I assure, it is part of ours,” Mr Jaishankar said during a press conference. “In fact, today I saw Prime Minister also embraced President Zelensky and I have seen him do it with a number of other leaders at a number of other places. So, I think we have a slightly cultural gap in terms of what these courtesies mean,” he added.

Prime Minister Modi concluded his visit to Ukraine on Friday, the first by an Indian PM to the European nation since India established diplomatic ties with Ukraine in 1992. The talks covered a range of sectors, including trade, economic issues, defence, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and education. He further asserted that PM Modi’s visit is a landmark as it is the first time an Indian Prime Minister has visited the country since the establishment of diplomatic ties. “As you know, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kyiv this morning and we’ve just concluded his official engagements.

This is a landmark visit. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Zelensky during their bilateral meeting that dialogue is the only solution to the conflict in Ukraine. “India was never neutral, we have always been on the side of peace,” PM Modi told Zelensky in their bilateral meeting. He further said that India was ready to play an active role in the path to peace and progress.

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