Russia is luring Indians into its war against Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky has said. The Ukrainian President alleged that Moscow was recruiting nationals from 47 countries through “deception and tricks”.
Zelensky’s message to India, other countries
Ghana, Nepal, Tajikistan, India, Yemen, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Belarus, Sudan, South Africa, many others… The Ukrainian president addressed representatives of the countries whose citizens he claimed were fighting in the war. He asked them to protect their nationals. Zelensky also called for measures to restrict Russia’s ability to finance and sustain the war. India has maintained that its oil purchases are guided by market conditions and national energy-security requirements.
“We know that Russia uses citizens of 47 countries in its war. We also see people dying on the battlefield who are not Russians — people from your countries, 47 countries, who ended up in Russia through deception and tricks,” the Ukrainian president said. The Russian armed forced recruited 227 Indian nationals, according to figures released by the ministry of external affairs. Of these, 139 had been discharged, while 51 died, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said earlier this month.
“[Russian President Vladimir] Putin is always looking for someone who can help him kill more, kill more people for every kilometre of land, take more territory and take another country instead of simply stopping and running his own country,” Zelensky said at the UN. Misri said New Delhi remained in discussions with Moscow to secure the release and repatriation of the remaining Indians, as per news agency ANI. He said Moscow’s oil industry was facing significant pressure. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that India’s energy decisions take into account the interests of Indian consumers and the economy overall.
