When questioned about PM Modi's embrace with Putin, Jaishankar told a foreign reporter, "May not be part of your culture but......"

 NEW DELHI: On Friday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a press briefing to address concerns raised by foreign reporters about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent diplomatic visits, especially his trip to Russia in July. This discussion also touched upon PM Modi's visit to Ukraine, which followed criticism from Western countries regarding his warm interaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

When questioned about PM Modi's embrace with Putin, Jaishankar told a foreign reporter, "May not be part of your culture but......"

During the press briefing, a BBC reporter mentioned that many people were "very upset" to see the interaction between PM Modi and Putin, referring to the embrace shared between the two leaders. Responding to this, Jaishankar pointed out the "cultural differences" between Western and Eastern countries. 

"In our part of the world, when people meet, they often embrace. It may not be part of your culture, but I assure you, it's a significant part of ours," Jaishankar explained, emphasizing that such gestures are common and culturally appropriate in India and many other Eastern countries. He further noted that Prime Minister Modi also embraced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy when they met on August 23. 

"Today, I believe I saw the Prime Minister embrace President Zelenskyy, as he has done with many other leaders on numerous occasions," Jaishankar said, underscoring that the gesture is a customary greeting rather than a political statement. "I think there is perhaps a cultural gap here in understanding what these gestures mean," he added.

When asked by another reporter whether India would consider imposing sanctions on Russia in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Jaishankar clarified India's stance. He stated that sanctions are not typically part of India's "political or diplomatic history."

"In India, we do not impose sanctions on any country. It's not part of our political or diplomatic history. If there are any sanctions we consider, it is generally those imposed by the United Nations. Those are the sanctions we respect," Jaishankar explained.

Further elaborating on the talks between PM Modi and President Zelenskyy, Jaishankar said the discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations across various sectors, including defense, trade, and education. PM Modi's visit to Ukraine was significant, as he became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the country since 1992. He arrived in Kyiv by special train and met with members of the Indian community and Ukrainian students learning Hindi, marking a notable moment in India's diplomatic relations with Ukraine.

Jaishankar's remarks come in the context of PM Modi's recent visits to Russia in July and Ukraine in August, amid the ongoing conflict described by President Putin as a "special military operation" in Kyiv. The war, which has continued for over two years since it began in February 2022, remains a critical issue on the global stage.