• The petroleum Russia is selling to India at a discount has Ukrainian blood in it: Dmytro Kuleba

    The petroleum Russia is selling to India at a discount has Ukrainian blood in it, is the message from Kiev. The foreign minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba today said that he knew India was buying Russian crude oil. “We are not surprised,” he began, adding that “throughout human history, in every war there were those who suffer from the war and there are those who make money from the war and India buying (is) crude from Russia on high discount (that is) paid with Ukranian blood, Ukrainians killed, tortured, raped.”

    Kuleba’s remarks came after the external affairs minister S. Jaishankar, asked about buying crude oil from Russia, said: “We have been very open and honest about our interest. I have a country with a per capita income of $2,000. These are not people who can afford higher energy prices. It’s my moral duty to ensure the best deal.” Currently, many major European countries including Germany are buying Russian natural gas.

    Speaking about India, he said his country has always been open and friendly. He said one of his first tasks as the war began was to take foreign students to safety and there were many Indians studying in the Ukraine, a country many considered was “their second home.” Kuleba also spoke about the strong economic relations between India and the Ukraine, particularly the export of sunflower oil. But he added that “We are very open to building a relationship with India. Under the circumstances, we won’t be hiding (that) we expected stronger practical support from India to Ukraine.”

    Since the beginning of the war five months ago, India has spoken about the immediate cessation of hostilities and diplomatic dialogue between the two countries. India has also condemned the massacre in Bucha and called for an investigation. India has also sent humanitarian aid to the Ukraine.

    Asked whether China could intervene to try and bring an end to the war, he said the conversation between Beijing and Kiev would be good for both China and the Ukraine. He added that China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, had a responsibility to ensure peace and security in the world.

    And the war in the Ukraine had international repercussions. Replying to a question about the presence of Imran Khan (then prime minister of Pakistan) in Moscow when the war in the Ukraine began, he said it was a choice every leader made but to shake hands with Putin at a time like this was “shameful.” About Russia reaching out to Myanmar, he said it was natural for Moscow to make friends with an authoritarian state.

    Speaking about Russians exporting weaponry, he said Moscow was facing a shortage of advanced weaponry and all it had in large quantities was Soviet era material. While the war was being fought in the east and south east of his country, all of Ukraine was being targeted by Russian missiles. He said even in western Ukraine, far from the frontline, the missile attacks could cause casualties.

    About the efforts to ensure that Ukraine managed to export grain and corn, particularly to countries that needed it, he said that since the first shipment in July 450,000 tonnes of grain and corn have gone out and if the “corridor” remained, it would ship to needy countries large quantities of foodstuffs.

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