Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak has found himself in hot water after making controversial remarks about the “intellectual potential” of Indians and Chinese. The comments, published in an article by Sputnik, have raised eyebrows and drawn criticism.
In the interview, Podolyak stated, “What’s wrong with India, China, and so forth? The problem is that they are not analyzing the consequences of their steps, these countries have weak intellectual potential, unfortunately.”
Ukrainian presidential adviser went on to acknowledge their investments in science, mentioning India’s recent lunar rover mission. However, he added, “but that does not indicate that this country fully comprehends what the modern world is about.”
The interview video, in which Podolyak made these comments, resurfaced when Sputnik published an article on September 12, quoting his controversial statements.
This is not the first time that Ukrainian officials have been involved in controversies related to India. In April of this year, Ukraine authorities faced backlash after the Defense of Ukraine’s Twitter account shared an image depicting the Hindu goddess Kali in an awkward pose, reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe’s famous pose.
India has maintained a diplomatic stance in its response to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Despite pressure from Western powers, India has refrained from imposing sanctions or condemning Russia’s actions.
During the recent Group of 20 Summit (G20), India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the New Delhi G20 Leaders Declaration, which received “100% consensus.” Notably, the declaration did not mention Russia as the aggressor in the conflict but referred to the “war in Ukraine.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov considered this a diplomatic victory and declared the G20 summit a “success” for avoiding direct criticism of Russia. However, the Ukrainian foreign ministry expressed disappointment, stating that the joint declaration was “nothing to be proud of” for not mentioning Russia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently emphasized the need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the Ukraine conflict, reiterating India’s clear and consistent position. He has expressed India’s willingness to support efforts to bring an end to the conflict through peaceful means.