WASHINGTON: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said India is “mostly with us” and expressed hope that US President Donald Trump’s intervention will lead New Delhi to change its attitude towards the Russian energy sector.
Zelensky was responding to a question on China and India’s contribution to Russia’s war in Ukraine during an interview with Fox News.
The US has often blamed India and China for buying Russian oil, which President Trump has claimed funds Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
“I think India is mostly with us,” Zelensky said. Yes, we have these energy-related questions, but I think President Trump can manage it with the Europeans, build closer and stronger relations with India.’’
He was responding to a specific question by a Fox News interviewer: ‘‘I’m sure about China, it’s more difficult because it’s not for today. It’s not in their interest not to support Russia.’’ He also said, “I think Iran will never be on our side, because we will never be on the side of the United States.”
Zelensky said, ‘‘If China really wanted to stop this war, it could have forced Moscow to end the aggression. Without China, Putin’s Russia is nothing. Yet too often China remains silent and distant instead of being active for peace.’’