Indian Foreign Ministry summons Ukrainian ambassador over Zelensky's criticism of Modi

On July 15, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned Ukraine’s ambassador to discuss President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent criticism of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his visit to Russia and his hug with Putin on the day of the massive Russian missile strike on Ukraine.

This was reported by the Indian edition of the Economic Times.

The summons of the Ukrainian ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates «official New Delhi’s dissatisfaction with Zelensky’s words.» The publication writes that India has postponed a meeting of the joint working group on culture with Ukraine after this incident.

On the evening of July 8, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Russia for the first time in five years and met with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. During the meeting, Putin hugged the Indian leader and greeted him as «any friend.»

In response, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the Indian prime minister for visiting Russia on the very day of the massive shelling of Ukraine. Zelensky wrote at the time:

«A Russian missile hit the largest children’s hospital in Ukraine, targeting children with cancer. Many were trapped under the rubble. It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world’s largest democracy hugging the world’s bloodiest criminal in Moscow on a day like this.»