The former Indian ambassador to Moscow explained what motivated Modi's visit to Ukraine

The visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kiev last week does not mean at all that India is turning away from Russia, as some Western media believe. This was stated to TASS by a well-known Indian diplomat, ex-ambassador to Moscow (2011-2013) and former chairman of the UN Human Rights Council Advisory Committee Ajay Malhotra.

"Prime Minister Modi's visit to Ukraine is not a signal that India is turning away from Russia," Malhotra said.

"India's ties with Russia and with Ukraine from the very beginning were at completely different levels. Our friendship with Russia has a long history, and our partnership with it is strategic and deeply rooted. With regard to Ukraine, this is much less obvious," he said.

Malhotra added that New Delhi is interested in cooperation with Ukraine in certain sectors and intends to maintain open and friendly communication channels with it.

"This becomes even more relevant as India consistently supports peace and dialogue to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, and this approach also motivates this visit," Malhotra said.

The ex-ambassador stressed that India is not only a newly rising power in an increasingly multipolar world, but also an important leader of the global South, where many countries are facing food, health and energy problems, "in some cases arising from the Ukrainian crisis." Therefore, India discussed the peaceful resolution of this crisis.

"In general, India's recent interaction with Ukraine should be viewed through such a prism and should not be misinterpreted or reinterpreted," the ex-ambassador stressed.

As reported, Modi visited Kiev on August 23 with a visit, which was the first for the head of the Indian government since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1992.