Jaishankar Cites ‘Cultural Gap’ As He Defends PM Modi’s Hug Diplomacy With Putin, Zelenskyy — WATCH

External Affairs Minister Jaishankar attributed the hug of PM Modi with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a cultural custom.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Mariinsky Palace, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.

Source : PTI

During his visit to Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly embraced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following a handshake, symbolising solidarity with the leader of the war-stricken nation. This gesture occurred just six weeks after Modi had similarly embraced Russia's President Vladimir Putin, the leader of Ukraine's primary adversary.

When asked about the significance of Modi's embrace of both leaders, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addressed the cultural context of such gestures. He explained “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 can assure you it is part of ours. In fact, today, I think, I saw, Prime Minister (Modi) also embrace President Zelenskyy.”

“And I have seen him do it with a number of other leaders in a number of other places. So, I think, we have a slight ... cultural gap here in terms of what these courtesies mean,” Jaishankar also said, PTI reported.

VIDEO | "You know, in our part of the world when people meet people, they are given to embracing each other. It may not be a part of your culture, but I assure you it's part of ours. In fact today, I think I saw the PM also embrace President (Volodymyr ) Zelenskyy. I have seen… pic.twitter.com/AolkOwZoJa

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 23, 2024

PM Modi’s Meeting With Russian President Putin

Despite Western discomfort, Modi's meeting with Putin in July focused on the need for a non-military resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war, highlighting that peace cannot be achieved amidst violence.

India reiterated the importance of dialogue between Ukraine and Russia on Friday to resolve the ongoing conflict, as Modi held extensive discussions with Zelenskyy against the backdrop of the war.

Following Modi's meeting with Putin, Western media outlets published headlines such as ‘Modi’s Embrace of Putin Irks Biden Team Pushing Support for Kyiv,’ while the BBC noted the imagery of a smiling Modi hugging the Russian president.

Zelenskyy had previously criticised Modi for meeting Putin, which coincided with a NATO summit in Washington, describing it as a "huge disappointment." Earlier, Modi had met Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in June in Italy.