New Delhi, September 21, 2024 — The Indian外交部 has strongly condemned recent Western media reports suggesting that Indian ammunition has been transported to Ukraine, calling the claims speculative and misleading. The development follows a series of allegations that have raised tensions between India and Russia, as well as drawn attention to India’s stance in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Background
According to a report by Reuters on September 19, Indian ammunition, produced by the country’s military manufacturers, has been transferred to Ukraine by European clients. Despite multiple protests from Moscow, New Delhi has not intervened to stop these transactions. The report, which cited unnamed officials and industry sources, claimed that the transfer of ammunition has been ongoing for over a year.
Indian外交部’s Response
Reacting to these allegations, the Indian外交部 issued a statement on the same day, slamming the Reuters report as speculative and misleading. Spokesperson Randeep贾伊斯瓦尔 emphasized that there were no violations of regulations on the part of India. The report implies India’s non-compliance, but in reality, there are no actions that contravene the law. Therefore, the report is incorrect and malicious, he stated.
The Indian外交部’s statement comes as a direct contradiction to the Reuters report, which suggested that India’s inaction could be seen as a violation of its export regulations. According to these regulations, weapons and equipment are meant to be used only by the declared buyers, and unauthorized transfers could result in the termination of future sales to the buyer.
Tensions with Russia
The issue has heightened tensions between India and Russia, which has historically been one of India’s major arms suppliers. Moscow has reportedly lodged at least two protests with New Delhi, one of which occurred during a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in July this year.
Despite the close relationship between India and Russia, New Delhi has refrained from joining Western sanctions against Moscow since the beginning of the conflict. This has been seen as an opportunity for India to boost its emerging arms export industry, which has long been one of the world’s largest importers of weapons.
Ukraine’s Perspective
The Ukrainian government has expressed its desire for India to play a more active role in resolving the conflict. Kiev believes that if India wants to secure a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, it must put in more effort to end the conflict, rather than merely acting as a messenger between Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine hopes that India can leverage its relationship with Russia to persuade Moscow to join peace talks.
Frontline Developments
Meanwhile, the situation on the frontline remains intense. According to Ukrainian news agency UNIAN, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a speech on September 19 that Ukrainian forces continue to operate in the Kursk region of Russia. He claimed that the Ukrainian military has successfully reduced the attack capability of Russian forces in the Donetsk region, but admitted that the situation in two directions in the area remains very difficult, with intense fighting occurring daily.
On the same night, Russia reportedly launched another large-scale attack on Ukraine, hitting military depots, airfields, and fuel storage facilities in several regions. In the Kyiv area, Russian drones targeted several ammunition depots.
Conclusion
The Indian外交部’s condemnation of the Western media reports highlights the sensitivity of the issue and the potential implications for India’s relationship with both Russia and Ukraine. As the conflict continues, the role of major powers like India in mediating and resolving the crisis remains crucial, and any perceived involvement in the conflict’s supply chain will likely draw significant attention and reaction.
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