India should drop its neutral position on the Ukraine conflict and support Western sanctions against Russia, Vladimir Zelensky has said in an interview with the Times of India (TOI) newspaper published on Monday.
The comments come in the wake of last week’s BRICS Summit in Russia, which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended.
India has refused to take sides over the Ukraine conflict and has not condemned Russia. According to Zelensky, New Delhi’s perceived neutral status is in fact a sign of support for Moscow.
“You cannot be neutral because it would mean you are on the side of Russia,” he claimed.
Modi has held meetings with Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent months. He visited Moscow in July for talks with Putin, before traveling to Kiev the following month.
During his meeting with Zelensky, Modi argued that New Delhi is not neutral, but stands on the side of peace.
At the BRICS Summit in Kazan last week, the Indian prime minister reiterated New Delhi’s stance on the need to resolve the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, emphasizing India’s willingness to facilitate peace talks.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar previously said that while New Delhi has not proposed specific strategies or conditions to end the conflict, it is actively engaging with both Moscow and Kiev.
“If these conversations are helpful, there are not many countries and leaders today that can engage with both Putin and Zelensky; I think we could make a contribution,” the minister stated.
In Monday’s interview, Zelensky admitted that India had a “huge value,” and that Modi could “influence the end of the war.” He insisted, however, that any assertions should be backed by actions.
“Blocking the Russian economy, blocking cheap energy resources” would hamper Moscow’s ability to continue fighting Ukraine, he argued.
New Delhi has increased trade with Moscow over the past two years. It notably ramped up purchases of discounted Russian oil, taking bilateral trade turnover to over $65 billion last year. The Indian leadership says it is ensuring the country’s energy security.
In his interview with the TOI, Zelensky claimed that Western sanctions against Russia were only “partially” working because countries such as India and China have not joined them.
The Russian leadership has repeatedly stated that Western sanctions have failed to weaken the country’s economy, which has shown resilient growth. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) last week boosted its 2024 forecast for Russia, and now expects the country’s GDP to grow 3.6% this year, an increase from its previous projection of 3.2%.