'Not Part of Your Culture': Jaishankar Shuts Down Western Criticism Over PM Modi-Putin 'Hug'

Kyiv: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar took a dig at the Western media over their criticism of the ‘hug exchange’ between PM Modi and Russian President Putin saying that Indian culture thrives on giving embrace in people-to-people relations which might not be the case with Western culture. 

 “In our part of the world when people meet people they are given to embracing each other. It may not be part of your culture, it is part of our culture. In fact, I saw Prime Minister Modi embrace Zelenskyy earlier today, so I think we might be having a cultural gap,” EAM Jaishankar said at a press conference in reply to a question by a Western journalist. 

Not Part of Your Culture, May Be Culture Gap: Jaishankar To Western Journalist

Jaishankar said much of the discussion between PM Modi and Zelensky was about the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

India and Ukraine also signed four agreements today, which would provide for cooperation in agriculture and food industry, medicine, culture, and humanitarian assistance. PM Modi's visit to Ukraine was the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister after Ukraine became independent in 1991. 

Earlier PM Modi had visited Moscow where both embraced each other Russian President. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ukraine on Friday at the invitation of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.During their discussions, the leaders emphasised the importance of achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace through dialogue and diplomacy.

This visit marks the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 1992.PM Modi and President Zelenskyy reiterated their commitment to further cooperation in upholding international law, including the UN Charter and principles such as respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. They agreed on the desirability of closer bilateral dialogue in this regard, according to a joint statement by the Ministry of External Affairs.