Modi’s Moscow Visit Sparks Outrage as Russia Attacks Ukraine

Modi‘s Moscow Visit Sparks Outrage as Russia Attacks Ukraine

Angela Chakraborty

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow on July 9, Monday has sparked global outrage, as Russian missiles targeted Ukrainian cities that had killed at least 39 people.

The attack on the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital on July 8 in Kyiv that had claimed the lives of five children and injured at least 190 resulted on triggering a backlash from the international community.

Taking to his X handle, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed Modi’s visit on the same day Russia struck missiles. “It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world’s largest democracy hug the world’s most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day,” he wrote.

Modi’s meeting with the Russian President was viewed as a display of support for him. The photographs of the two leaders sharing a cordial meeting over a cup of tea and attending a horse show, that went viral over the Internet, were widely criticised internationally.

The visit has raised questions about India’s stand on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Moreover, senior US officials are concerned about India’s strong ties with Russia. Matthew Miller, a US State Department spokesperson, said, “We hope India and other countries will urge Russia to respect the UN Charter and Ukraine’s sovereignty,”. The United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk reported that medical workers had treat sick children outside the damaged medical facility.

India has remained neutral on the UN resolutions criticizing Russia’s actions on Ukraine and had opted not to take a stand by abstaining from the votes. Moreover, India’s relationship with Russia has raised concerns in the West, as trade between the two nations has reached nearly $65 billion in 2023-24, with a significant portion favouring Russia.

Modi’s discussions with Putin in Moscow aimed to address this trade imbalance, and officials from both sides stated that they aimed to boost bilateral trade by more than half to hit $100 billion by 2030.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow on Monday was his first trip since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly two and a half years ago in February 2022, but the visit has been seen as a setback for peace efforts in the region.

Russia’s defence ministry claimed that it targeted “military industrial facilities of Ukraine and air bases,” and on the other hand, the ministry also stated that a Ukrainian air defence missile was responsible for the hospital damage, despite lacking evidence to support this statement.

Prime Minister Modi emphasized the need for peace without directly condemning the strikes or addressing them explicitly. “Where it’s conflict, war, or terror, any person who believes in humanity is troubled when there are deaths, especially when innocent children die”, he told reporters. He highlighted the necessity of peace for future generations and also added that India is ready to support efforts for promoting peace.

The international community has condemned Russia’s actions, with US President Joe Biden describing the missile strikes as “horrific reminder of Russia’s brutality”. As the NATO summit in Washington prepares to provide further support to Ukraine, Modi’s visit to Moscow has been viewed as an obstacle to international efforts of isolating Putin. India being heavily dependent on their military equipment and discounted crude oil, remains to be closely allied with Russia.

In conclusion, Modi’s visit to Moscow and India’s close ties with Russia has raised worldwide concerns on India’s stand on the Ukrainian crisis. The visit has also brought to attention the necessity of international cooperation in addressing the issue.

16-07-2024

Angela Chakraborty is a student of Communication & Journalism, Gauhati University

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