The Ministry of External Affairs denied reports that India had exported artillery shells to Ukraine. This came after reports in news publications and social media claimed that Russia had traced grenades used by the Ukrainian military to an Indian supplier.
“We can say categorically that we have not sent any of this artillery ammunition to Ukraine. We have not exported, we have not shipped,” said Randhir Jaiswal, the ministry's official spokesperson.
The reports came from agencies linked to the Russian government.
India has so far avoided aligning itself with any particular party since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022. Although India has sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine and participated in aid conferences aimed at rebuilding Ukraine, the country has refrained from condemning Russia for its invasion of the country. . India has also continued its deep energy and defense relationship with Russia.
New Delhi has maintained contacts with both sides. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar concluded a five-day visit to Russia in December, focusing on improving the trade balance between the two countries and signing deals related to nuclear power plants. On Wednesday, Jaishankar also spoke to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba about the ongoing conflict.
“My first phone conversation in 2024 was with @DrSJaishankar about Ukrainian-Indian relations. I informed my counterpart about the recent Russian escalation of terror and massive airstrikes, which have caused civilian suffering and destruction,” Kuleba wrote on social media platform X.
The two sides discussed plans for bilateral cooperation, Jaishankar said after the conversation. The ministers also decided to hold intergovernmental committee meetings between India and Ukraine soon, Kuleba added. The two sides have not held such a meeting since 2018.
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Published: Jan 4, 2024 9:55 PM IST