‘Being with Russia is being on wrong side of history’, ‘Zelenskky will be happy to speak at G-20’: Top quotes by Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister in Delhi

The minister also expressed Ukraine’s has urged New Delhi to consider the participation of Ukraine officials at the events of G20, stating that the warn-torn country’s president Vlodomyr Zelenskyy would be happy to speak.

Here’s what Emine Dzhaporava said during her maiden visit to India:

📌 In a proposal expected to put Delhi in a bind, Dzhaparova said Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be happy to address the G-20 summit in New Delhi, to be held in September this year.

This pitch of allowing Zelenskyy to address the G20 leaders’ summit is an interesting proposal and could put Delhi in a spot, since India has voted in favour of allowing the Ukraine President to address the UN, which Russia had voted against. Dzhaparova said that as a global leader and current Chair of G20, India can play a greater role in bringing peace.

📌 Dzhaporava said, “Being with Russia, we are again very sincerely saying so, is actually being on the wrong side of history. Supporting Russia means that it is to be in the evil visionary picture of the world”.

📌 While speaking on the dangers of not stopping those who prefer to push their agenda with “impunity”, she said India should be “pragmatic and balanced” in its views, and cited its neighbours Pakistan and China. “The relationship with Pakistan is never directed against the relationship with India. I know there are some sensitivities about military contracts but let me be very clear that we have had the contracts since the 1990s,” she said.

📌 India is witnessing visionary changes and it may take some time for it to build new relations with Ukraine based on a “pragmatic and balanced approach,” she said. “I think the suggestion that I brought here is to have a better and deeper relationship with India. And it needs reciprocity. We knocked the door but it is also up to the owner of the house to open up the door,” she said.

📌 On China’s alleged aggressive behaviour against India, Dzhaparova said any “aggression that might question the territorial integrity of any country is a matter of huge concern.”

📌 The deputy foreign minister also invited National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval to visit Ukraine. “India may play a greater role. We respect the decisions of sovereign countries. India too is building up relations with other countries. It is for you to decide, it is for you to benefit,” Dzhaparova said, noting that Ukraine wants to expand ties with India.

Pleased to have a meeting with Secretary (West) MFA @SanjayVermalFS 🇺🇦🇮🇳 in New Delhi. Updated on #Ukraine’s efforts to fight #russian unprovoked aggression. Invited 🇮🇳 to join President Zelenskyy’s #PeaceFormula & #GrainFromUkraine initiative. Important to have #India on board. pic.twitter.com/v8ere2Mwex

— Emine Dzheppar (@EmineDzheppar) April 10, 2023

📌 Dzhaparova also added that the war in Ukraine showed that the Russian military capabilities are “not sufficient enough” and that its tanks can be “destroyed in one artillery shot”. Invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s principle, she said, Ukraine’s president Zelenskky had called for fighting for rights without violence.

“Our president has been constantly saying that we have to fight for our rights without stepping on the rights of others. India in many ways has a lot in common with Ukraine. There is huge and untapped potential in our bilateral relations. It is only a start in our dialogue,” she said.

📌  Dzhaparova claimed that some intercepted conversations of Russian soldiers with their wives and mothers found that they were about stealing households, even “toilet bowls”, news agency ANI reported.

Not a time for War- PM @narendramodi

Pleased to meet Ukrainian First Dy FM @EmineDzheppar. Exchanged views on bilateral & global issues of mutual interest. Cultural ties & women empowerment also figured in the discussion. Ukraine was assured of enhanced humanitarian assistance. pic.twitter.com/YmzQ6o7LbG

— Meenakashi Lekhi (@M_Lekhi) April 11, 2023

“When we receive intercepted conversations of Russian soldiers with their wives and mothers, they are about what to steal from Ukrainian households, they sometimes steal even toilet bowls,” she said.

“If someone comes to rape you, what possible language can you find to talk to… I was really impressed when I got to know that there was an 11-year-old boy who was raped in front of his mother and he lost his ability to speak… There is no room for proper language. February 24 change everything for Ukraine,” she added.

During her visit, Dzhaporava also held talks with Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi. In a tweet, Lekhi said the two exchanged views on bilateral and global issues of mutual interest. “Ukraine was assured of enhanced humanitarian assistance,” she said, while Dzhaparova described the meeting as “fruitful”.

Since February 2022, India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has been maintaining that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.

(With PTI inputs)