4 min readNew DelhiApr 12, 2023 09:12 AM IST
First published on: Apr 12, 2023 at 02:49 AM IST
In a proposal expected to put Delhi in a bind, the visiting First Deputy Foreign minister of Ukraine, Emine Dzhaparova, on Tuesday 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.
Dzhaparova, who was speaking at the government-funded think tank Indian Council of World Affairs, also asked India to involve Ukrainian representatives in the G20 meetings, as the war had impacted the global economy.
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.
Zelenskyy had addressed the G20 summit at Bali through video-conference.
Dzhaparova said that as a global leader and current Chair of G20, India can play a greater role in bringing peace; she hoped that Indian officials will visit Kyiv soon.
Dzhaparova said National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who has travelled to Moscow thrice since the Russia-Ukraine war began, can visit Kyiv for a “balanced approach” on New Delhi’s part. On India’s role so far, she said, “Being with Russia, we are again very sincerely saying so, is actually being on the wrong side of history. Supporting Russia means it is to be in the evil visionary picture of the world.”
She said India is witnessing visionary changes and it may take some time for it to build new relations with Ukraine, and the ties should be 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 the door.”
Dzhaparova also met MoS for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi, who tweeted that they exchanged views on bilateral and global issues of mutual interest, besides cultural ties and women’s empowerment. “Ukraine was assured of enhanced humanitarian assistance,” Lekhi said.
Calling the meeting “fruitful”, Dzhaparova tweeted, “Briefed Minister on #Ukraine’s efforts to fight Russia’s unprovoked aggression. Discussed deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields, in particular culture.”
On Ukraine’s ties with Pakistan, she said: “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 also invoked Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings, saying that Gandhiji had called for fighting for rights without violence.
Dzhaparova, the first senior official from Kyiv to meet Indian officials since the Russia-Ukraine war began on February 24 last year, had on Monday met MEA’s Secretary (West) Sanjay Verma,
Dzhaparova, who was speaking at the government-funded think tank Indian Council of World Affairs, also asked India to involve Ukrainian representatives in the G20 meetings, as the war had impacted the global economy. (Express Photo) 
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