Elina Valtonen, the Finnish Foreign Minister, emphasizes India’s possible role in influencing Russia’s Ukraine policy.
The Hindu reported in an exclusive interview conducted with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Vattonen that Finland had called on India to use their international influence to pressurize Russia to change its stance towards Ukraine.
India has established itself as a possible mediator in the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. It maintains dialogue with both Kyiv, and Moscow. Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, expressed his appreciation for India’s efforts to promote peace. India, a Russian ally refrains from condemning the aggression directly, focusing instead on peaceful dialogue. India is seen by Kyiv as a promising mediator due to its nonaligned stance. It hopes that India will be involved in advancing Ukraine’s peace initiatives and future summits.
Valtonen tells The Hindu:
“We would like India to lend its support to Ukraine’s Peace Formula. It is the only peace plan that respects the UN Charter and the key principles of international legal law,” she said. She also stressed the need for a “just and sustainable peace in Ukraine.”
The peace formula of Ukraine is based on international law and includes Russia withdrawing from Ukraine, as well as the return of all civilians and POWs.
The Finnish Foreign Minister stressed that international cooperation is essential to counter Russian aggression.
“We would prefer that all parties, including India use their own international clout in order to exert influence over Russia to change its course and respect UN Charter,” she said.
India, a Russian ally and a country that has been sanctioned by the EU and G7, supports Russia’s economic growth through discounted hydrocarbons and participates in schemes designed to bypass sanctions via third-party trade agreements.
Valtonen emphasized that Finland as a member of the EU has implemented sanctions against Russia, and urged India follow suit.
“The EU has repeatedly urged countries not to provide any material or other support for Russia’s invasion in Ukraine. She said that it was important for as many partners to share our stance and enforce sanctions, as well as combat their circumvention.
The minister stressed the global implications of Russia’s actions, noting “Russia has blatantly breached the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity enshrined within the UN Charter.” She also noted that the war‘s impact extends far beyond Ukraine and Europe. “It undermines the rules-based system of international security and causes economic instability and supply disruptions on a worldwide scale. These impacts are often felt most in developing nations of the Global South.”
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