Ukraine envoy to India says 'Ukraine will not accept any territorial concessions to Russia, praises PM Modi’s peace push'

Ukraine’s Ambassador to India Oleksandr Polishchuk has reaffirmed his country’s stance that it will not bow to Russian demands. “Ukraine will not give up and will not accept any territorial concessions, or capitulation demands from Moscow,” he said in an interaction with PTI Videos on Thursday night.

The envoy turned his attention to Russia’s economic ties with India, arguing that the Kremlin is reaping financial rewards from discounted oil exports. “Of course, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin benefitted from trading with India and given huge discount for oil, but the problem is that he uses this money not to enhance the social wellness in Russia,” he alleged.

He went further, warning that Russia may face challenges in supporting its social programmes by next year. In his words, Moscow should “use this (oil) money for enhancing the social situation in Russia” and “not to feed the war.”

Tariff shock from Washington

Polishchuk’s remarks coincided with a major development in trade policy. The Trump administration in the United States has imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports, which came into effect on 27 August. The move has cast a shadow on India–US economic relations.

A large part of this strain stems from India’s purchase of Russian crude oil. US President Donald Trump not only doubled tariffs on Indian goods but added a further 25 per cent duty linked to those energy imports.

The road to peace and India’s role

The Ukrainian envoy was also asked about comments by Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro, who said that “the road to peace runs, at least partly, through New Delhi.” Responding to this, Polishchuk said, “It’s probably a question for the US Embassy here, not for me.”

At the same time, he commended India’s diplomatic role in seeking peace. “We actually expected this unwavering support from the Government of India,” he noted, while highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts in dialogue and conflict resolution.

PM Modi’s outreach to Ukraine

The ambassador recalled a personal message from Modi to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Ukraine’s National Day, describing it as a meaningful gesture. He pointed out that both India and Ukraine celebrate their Independence Days in August, calling this coincidence symbolic of their shared commitment to democracy and independence.

On the question of a high-level visit, Polishchuk said that Kyiv remains hopeful about President Zelenskyy travelling to India. “Yes, we have the invitation pending since last year. So I hope that it will happen definitely,” he said.

Prime Minister Modi had visited Ukraine in August 2023, and the envoy suggested that a reciprocal visit from the Ukrainian leader would further strengthen ties between the two nations.

(With inputs from PTI)