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Ukraine’s bid to reset ties with India has hit a setback after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy endorsed Donald Trump’s plan to impose steep tariffs on countries trading with Russia, a move that could directly affect New Delhi after the Potus announced 50 per cent duties.
The remarks also revive scrutiny of Kyiv’s longstanding military ties with Pakistan.
Zelenskyy backs Trump’s tariff push
Speaking to ABC News, Zelenskyy called tariffs on nations “helping Moscow” the “right idea,” arguing that buying Russian energy or striking trade deals only prolongs the war.
When asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photos with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping at the SCO summit, images Trump said showed leaders going to the “dark side” — Zelenskyy maintained that penalties on such countries were justified.
India and China in focus
Zelenskyy’s comments came soon after Modi’s SCO visit, where he was seen sharing light moments with Putin and Xi. Modi and Putin also held a 45-minute discussion while travelling together to the venue for their bilateral talks.
India and China remain among Russia’s biggest buyers of oil and gas, providing Moscow with an estimated $985 billion in revenue since the war began, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
Frosty past with New Delhi
India-Ukraine relations have long been fraught. Kyiv voted in favour of UN sanctions against New Delhi after the 1998 nuclear tests and later supported international intervention on Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
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View AllAdding to tensions, Ukraine has supplied Pakistan with military hardware worth around $1.6 billion, including 320 T-80 tanks, despite India’s concerns about Islamabad’s role in terrorism and its presence on the FATF grey list.
Turn the page
Earlier this year, Ukraine’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova urged India to “turn the page” on past differences and even suggested inviting Zelenskyy to the G20 summit. She promoted Kyiv’s “Peace Formula” and “Grain from Ukraine” initiatives during meetings with Indian officials.
Her visit, however, drew a mixed response. While she was given speaking platforms at government-funded think tanks, she did not secure meetings with India’s top leadership, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval.
Kyiv’s public defense of Trump’s tariff plan, coupled with its history of arming Pakistan, now complicates its attempt to build a fresh chapter with India — exposing contradictions in Ukraine’s diplomatic messaging.
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