Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of attempting to recruit Indians to participate in the war against Ukraine. He claimed that Moscow is using deception and tricks to enlist nationals from 47 different countries.
Zelensky’s message to India, other countries
At the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday, Zelensky asked the other countries to prevent their citizens from being drawn into the Russia-Ukraine war . 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. “Do not let Putin drag you into this war. Limit his room to act, limit his money, limit his war,” he added. 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. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that India’s energy decisions take into account the interests of Indian consumers and the economy overall.
