(Adds details, background)
NEW DELHI, April 10 (Reuters) - Ukraine's deputy foreign
minister on Monday said Kyiv wanted New Delhi to be more
involved in helping resolve its conflict with Russia and has
sought a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other
top officials.
Emine Dzhaparova told broadcaster CNBC TV18 in an interview
that Kyiv also expected India to invite Ukrainian officials to
participate in G20 events and intensify political dialogue with
Kyiv.
India holds the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 this
year and hosts a leaders summit in September. New Delhi has not
been as critical of Moscow as others for its invasion of Ukraine
and has even ramped up its buying of Russian oil - the lifeblood
of its economy - while others have sought to buy less or ban it.
Dzhaparova, who is on a four-day visit to New Delhi, told
the broadcaster: "We believe India should be engaged and
involved in the Ukraine issue to a great extent".
"We believe intensification of political dialogue on the
highest level is first step towards this big goal. My president
is requesting a phone conversation with the Prime Minister. We
are looking forward to welcome him in Kyiv one day," she said.
Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, she said India
should be pragmatic in securing its resources, including energy
and defence equipment, while warning against dependence on
Russia.
India has sought a diplomatic solution to the conflict in
Ukraine, while Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin in
September that now is "not an era of war".
India has also boosted its purchases of Russian oil, taking
advantage of the deep discounts following a European ban on
Russian oil imports.
Russia, like the Soviet Union before it, has been India’s
main source of arms and defence equipment for decades and it has
now displaced Iraq as India's top crude supplier as well.
"We only think it is crucial to diversify all of the
resources, not only energy but also military resources,"
Dzhaparova said. "When you are dependent from Russia, they
always use this blackmail instrument".
Dzhaparova will meet India's deputy national security
adviser and a junior foreign minister during her visit and
address a world affairs think tank.
(Reporting by Tanvi Mehta, Sakshi Dayal and Rupam Jain; Writing
by Shivam Patel; Editing by YP Rajesh and Hugh Lawson)
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