Important to have India on board, says Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister

India is a global leader and can help in addressing key global challenges and promoting peace, Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova said on Monday and invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message to Russian President Vladimir Putin in September last year that 'today's era is not of war'.

After briefing Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Sanjay Verma on the ground situation in Ukraine, Dzhaparova said she updated the Indian side on Ukraine's efforts to fight Russia's "unprovoked aggression" and invited New Delhi to join President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's peace formula and the grain initiative.

Dzhaparova said it is important to have India on board.

Replying to a question during a brief interaction with reporters after meeting Verma, Dzhaparova described India as a global leader and a 'Vishwaguru' which can play a role in addressing global challenges.

"I think India is a global player. It is really a 'Vishwaguru' of the world. We are feeling the pain by actually fighting for the values. This is about justice.Rusia is questioning the very existence of my country. In our history of 1,500 years, Ukraine never attacked any country," she said.