Finland calls on India to support Ukraine’s Peace Formula

Finland has called on India to use its international influence to pressure Russia into changing its stance on Ukraine, The Hindu reports in an exclusive interview with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen.

India has positioned itself as a potential mediator in the ongoing Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, maintaining dialogue with both Kyiv and Moscow. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy expressed appreciation for India’s peace efforts. However, as a Russian ally, India refrains from directly condemning the aggression, instead focusing on peaceful dialogue. Kyiv views India as a promising intermediary due to its non-aligned stance and hopes for its involvement in advancing Ukraine’s peace initiatives and future peace summits.

Valtonen told The Hindu:

“We would like to see India lend its support to Ukraine‘s Peace Formula, which is the only peace plan based on respecting the UN Charter and key principles of international law,” she said, emphasizing the need for “a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine.”

Ukraine’s peace formula is based on the international law, and includes Russia’s withdrawal from Ukraine and returning all POWs and civilian captives.

The Finnish Foreign Minister stressed the importance of international cooperation in opposing Russian aggression.

“We would prefer to see all parties, including India, use their own international clout to exert influence on Russia to change course and respect the UN Charter,” she said.

While the EU and G7 countries have sanctioned Russia and severely restricted trade, India, as a Russian ally, not only supports Russia’s economy by purchasing discounted hydrocarbons but also participates in schemes to bypass sanctions through third-party trade arrangements.

Valtonen highlighted that Finland, as part of the EU, has implemented sanctions against Russia and urged India to follow suit:

“The EU has repeatedly urged all countries not to provide material or other support to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It is important that as many partners as possible share our stance, enforce sanctions and combat their circumvention,” she stated.

The minister emphasized the global implications of Russia’s actions, noting that “Russia has blatantly violated the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity enshrined in the UN Charter.” She pointed out that the war’s impact extends beyond Ukraine and Europe, “undermining the rules-based international system and global security as well as causing economic instability and supply chain disruptions on a global scale, the impacts often being felt the most in the developing nations of the Global South.”

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