In an interview to The Times of India this week, Zelensky described the BRICS Summit as a "failure", adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wasn't doing enough to "influence the end of war".
"Modi is the PM of a really huge country… Such a country cannot just say we are interested in the end of the war… PM Modi can influence the end of the war... blocking of Russian economy, blocking of cheap energy resources, blocking of defence-industrial complex of Russia will lead to the decrease in capacity of Moscow to wage wars against us," Zelensky was quoted as saying by the Indian publication.
Zelensky also called upon the Indian leader to play a part in prisoner exchange with Russia, which is one of the main agenda items of the West-backed meeting in Toronto on Wednesday, according to a Canadian statement.
This came amid India’s recent push for a peaceful path to end the conflict and PM Modi’s visits to Russia and Ukraine in July and August. At the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Modi briefed President Putin on his meeting with Zelensky and thanked Russia for its support in tackling food, fuel, and fertilizer crises. Modi also expressed confidence in BRICS as an effective platform for global challenges ahead.
Highlighting the contrast between Zelensky's and India's stance on BRICS and India-Russia ties, former Indian Prime Ministerial aide Sudheendra Kulkarni told Sputnik India that Zelensky doesn't quite well understand the current global realities.
"His lengthy interview with TOI shows how Zelensky is completely divorced from the political realities of the world in general, and India and the rest of the Global South in particular," Kulkarni said.
The former PM aide said that Zelensky calling the BRICS Summit a failure showed that he liked to "believe his own lies".
"The recently concluded BRICS Summit in Russia is widely regarded as the most successful in the history of BRICS. There was total unanimity on every major issue discussed. The number of countries in the Global South desirous of joining BRICS is increasing unstoppably," Kulkarni highlighted.
Kulkarni took an especially strong exception to Zelensky's criticism of India-Russia's booming economic ties, describing his expectations as "unrealistic".
"Zelenskyy conveniently forgets that Russia has been India’s time-tested friend through thick and thin. Furthermore, India’s economic and defence cooperation with Russia is guided by our vital national needs and interests," Kulkarni stressed.
The former PM advisor called on Zelensky to stop pursuing a "self-deceptive path", which he stated was guided by partisan interests of the US. "Zelenskyy should abandon the dream of a NATO membership and come to an honourable peace agreement with Russia. India would surely support such a course," the Indian commentator stated.
It's worth noting that India isn't participating in the two preparatory meetings for the second 'Peace Summit' on Ukraine being hosted by Canada. While an NSA-level meeting was held in Toronto last week, a ministerial conference centred on the rejected 'Peace Formula' is scheduled for 30-31 October.
Former Indian Ambassador Anil Trigunayat expressed surprise at Zelensky's comments, which came despite Modi-Zelensky talks during the G7 Summit in Italy and Modi's visit to Ukraine.
"India has always stood for dialogue, diplomacy and respect for UN Charter and has offered its good offices to act as an honest interlocutor. At the end of the day, both adversaries and their benefactors have to be honest about ending the war," the ex-Indian envoy concluded.