Indian Minister Jaishankar Defends PM Modi’s Hug with Russian President Putin
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s hug with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating it is part of Indian culture. PM Modi visited Russia last month, where he was warmly welcomed by President Putin. This drew criticism from some Western media and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who called it a ‘devastating blow to peace efforts.’
Jaishankar explained during a press conference, ‘In our part of the world, when people meet people, they are given to embracing each other. It may not be part of your culture, but I assure, it is part of ours.’ He added that PM Modi also embraced President Zelenskyy and other leaders, highlighting cultural differences in courtesies.
PM Modi concluded his visit to Ukraine on Friday, marking the first visit by an Indian PM to the European nation since diplomatic ties were established in 1992. Discussions between PM Modi and President Zelenskyy focused on strengthening bilateral relations in sectors like trade, economic issues, defense, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and education.
India and Ukraine signed four agreements during PM Modi’s visit: the Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Food Industry; the MoU on Cooperation in the field of Medical Products Regulation; the MoU on Indian Humanitarian Grant Assistance for Implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects; and the Programme for Cultural Cooperation for 2024-2028.
Earlier, PM Modi told Zelenskyy that dialogue is the only solution to the conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing India’s commitment to peace. ‘India was never neutral, we have always been on the side of peace,’ PM Modi said, expressing India’s readiness to play an active role in the path to peace and progress.
Doubts Revealed
Jaishankar -: S Jaishankar is India’s External Affairs Minister, which means he is responsible for managing India’s relationships with other countries.
PM Modi -: PM Modi is the Prime Minister of India, the leader of the Indian government.
Putin -: Vladimir Putin is the President of Russia, the leader of the Russian government.
bilateral relations -: Bilateral relations are the connections and interactions between two countries, like India and Russia.
agreements -: Agreements are formal decisions made between countries to work together on certain issues or projects.
commitment to peace -: Commitment to peace means working hard to make sure there is no fighting or war, and that people live in harmony.
cultural differences in greetings -: Cultural differences in greetings mean that people from different countries have different ways of saying hello or showing respect, like hugging or shaking hands.
Ukraine -: Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe, and PM Modi’s visit there was important because it was the first time an Indian Prime Minister visited since 1992.