NEW DELHI: Government described as speculative and misleading an international news agency’s report that claimed Indian defence exports to Europe were diverted to Ukraine. In an official statement, the ministry of external affairs said that the report implied violations by India, where none existed and, hence, was “inaccurate and mischievous”.
The report said that artillery shells sold by Indian arms makers had been diverted by European customers to Ukraine and New Delhi had not intervened to stop the trade despite protests from Moscow.
MEA said India had an impeccable track record of compliance with international obligations on the export of military and dual use items.
“India has been carrying out its defence exports taking into account its international obligations on non-proliferation and based on its own robust legal and regulatory framework, which includes a holistic assessment of relevant criteria, including end user obligations and certifications,” it added.
The transfer of munitions to support Ukraine’s defence against Russia had occurred for more than a year, according to the report. It also claimed that the Kremlin had raised the issue on at least two occasions, including during a July meeting between Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar. Italy and the Czech Republic, which is leading an initiative to supply Kyiv with artillery shells from outside the European Union, were identified as countries sending Indian munitions to Ukraine.
In Jan this year, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had told a news conference that India had not sent or sold artillery shells to Ukraine. The news agency report said that Delhi produced only a very small amount of the ammunition being used by Ukraine, with one official estimating that it was under 1% of the total arms imported by Kyiv since the war. The news agency couldn’t determine if the munitions were resold or donated to Kyiv by the European customers.
The report said that artillery shells sold by Indian arms makers had been diverted by European customers to Ukraine and New Delhi had not intervened to stop the trade despite protests from Moscow.
MEA said India had an impeccable track record of compliance with international obligations on the export of military and dual use items.
“India has been carrying out its defence exports taking into account its international obligations on non-proliferation and based on its own robust legal and regulatory framework, which includes a holistic assessment of relevant criteria, including end user obligations and certifications,” it added.
The transfer of munitions to support Ukraine’s defence against Russia had occurred for more than a year, according to the report. It also claimed that the Kremlin had raised the issue on at least two occasions, including during a July meeting between Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar. Italy and the Czech Republic, which is leading an initiative to supply Kyiv with artillery shells from outside the European Union, were identified as countries sending Indian munitions to Ukraine.
In Jan this year, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had told a news conference that India had not sent or sold artillery shells to Ukraine. The news agency report said that Delhi produced only a very small amount of the ammunition being used by Ukraine, with one official estimating that it was under 1% of the total arms imported by Kyiv since the war. The news agency couldn’t determine if the munitions were resold or donated to Kyiv by the European customers.
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