"If You (India) Benefit From Our Suffering...": Message from Ukraine's Minister

"The opportunity for India to buy Russian oil at a low price stems from the fact that Ukrainians are suffering and dying every day as a result of Russian aggression," said Dmytro Kuleba in an exclusive interview with NDTV. 

Ukraine's Foreign Minister has slammed India's imports of cheap Russian oil as "morally inappropriate." "The opportunity for India to buy Russian oil at a low price stems from the fact that Ukrainians are suffering from Russian aggression and dying every day," Dmytro Kuleba said in an exclusive interview with NDTV.

"If you benefit from our suffering, it would be nice to see more of your assistance directed toward us," Mr Kuleba said.

Dmytro kuleba Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

Mr Kuleba was responding to Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar's statement on Monday that the European Union (EU) imported more fossil fuel from Russia than the next ten countries combined between February and November of this year.

"It is not enough to point a finger at the European Union and say, 'Oh, they are doing the same thing," said Ukraine's Foreign Minister.

Mr Kuleba believes that India's decision to import cheap Russian oil must be viewed through the lens of human suffering in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister also stated that India, specifically Prime Minister Narendra Modi, can play a critical role in bringing the war to an end.

"India is a very important player in the global arena, and the Prime Minister of India can make a difference with his voice." At the same time, he believes that New Delhi should be direct in referring to the situation in Ukraine.

"We are waiting for the moment when Indian foreign policy will call a spade a spade and name the conflict as it is, a 'Russian aggression against Ukraine," he said.

India maintains a close strategic relationship with Russia and has consistently voted against Moscow in UN resolutions condemning Russian annexation of Ukrainian territory.

When asked if New Delhi's intervention could realistically influence Russian President Vladimir Putin's thinking, Mr Kuleba said it was critical to make a concerted effort.

"If you don't try, nothing will change," Mr Kuleba said.

"We have heard some encouraging messages from your Prime Minister, who stated that now is not the time for war. We hope that there will be more activity, even if it is quiet, behind-the-scenes diplomacy in the coming weeks. "It's worth attempting to end the war in any way," he said.

On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, capturing thousands of square kilometres in the east and south of the country, territory that it has since lost due to coordinated Ukrainian military counter-attacks. Ukraine has been able to retake the city of Kherson in recent weeks.

He stated that Kyiv's military offensive will not be halted this winter. "We will not stop for a single day because every pause gives the Russians more time to dig into the ground, build fortifications, and strengthen their defensive lines in Ukraine's occupied territories," he said.

Over the last few weeks, Ukraine has been subjected to coordinated Russian drone and missile attacks on civilian infrastructure, particularly power plants.

"Our problem is that our electricity grid was built during the Soviet era, so Russia has all the maps and technical documentation needed to pinpoint the most critical elements of our energy infrastructure," Mr Kuleba explained.

"They pounced on it one by one, taking out one transformer after the other. They do it in a systematic manner with one goal in mind: to terrorise the Ukrainian people, to create unbearable conditions for civilians, and to break us down. They will not, however, break us down. Whatever they do, we will survive and triumph "He continued.