A warm embrace between Modi and Putin sparks international backlash
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar commented on the reaction to Russian President Vladimir Putin's warm welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting in Moscow. The event sparked controversy, particularly from the perspective of Ukraine and Western countries that support Kyiv in its war with Russia.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on 8-9 July in Moscow. Both leaders discussed important cooperation issues, and the exchange of hugs between Modi and Putin was widely commented on in the media.
Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar addressed the controversy related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia, where there was a warm welcome from President Vladimir Putin.
Jaishankar's remarks came in response to the reaction of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who expressed his disappointment that Modi warmly embraced Putin.
"In our region, people greet each other with hugs"
During a press conference, Jaishankar noted that gestures such as hugs are an integral part of Indian culture.
In our part of the world, when people meet people, they are given to embrace each other. It may not be a part of your culture, but I assure you it's part of ours - Jaishankar emphasised.
The Indian Foreign Minister also added that Prime Minister Modi always tries to establish personal contact with other leaders. Hugs are part of his diplomatic style, which aims to build and maintain friendly relationships. He also stressed that Prime Minister Modi uses the same gestures towards all leaders, regardless of nationality or political stance.
Several weeks after the visit to Russia, Modi visited Ukraine, where he met with Zelensky. Interestingly, during this meeting, there was also an exchange of hugs, which underscores the consistency in the behaviour of the Indian Prime Minister.
The entire situation shows how cultural differences can affect international relations and how natural and common gestures in one country can be perceived very differently in other parts of the world.
For India, where warmth and hospitality are crucial elements of the culture, a hug is an expression of respect and goodwill. However, in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, such a gesture may be interpreted as a political signal, which caused concern in Kyiv.
