NEW DELHI (AP) — Ukraine desires India to play a much bigger position in serving to finish Russia’s conflict, its deputy overseas minister mentioned Tuesday through the first go to by a senior Ukrainian official to India for the reason that conflict started final yr.

India “can play a bigger and greater role” and Ukraine would “welcome any effort that is directed at resolving the war,” Emine Dzhaparova mentioned.

She made the feedback in a speech on the Indian Council of World Affairs, a assume tank in New Delhi, after assembly together with her Indian counterpart, Sanjay Verma, and different officers.

Dzhaparova has sought to make use of her go to to deepen ties with India, which has shunned condemning Russia’s position within the conflict and has abstained a number of occasions from voting on U.N. resolutions in opposition to Moscow. Instead, New Delhi has pressured the necessity for diplomacy and dialogue on ending the conflict and has expressed its willingness to contribute to peace efforts.

Dzhaparova mentioned she hopes Indian officers together with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who visited Moscow in February and held talks with President Vladimir Putin, may also go to Kyiv.

“We would be happy to welcome Indian officials to Kyiv,” she mentioned.

Russian officers are anticipated to go to India in coming weeks for conferences of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which the nation is chairing this yr.

India relies on Russia for almost 60% of its protection tools and has ramped up its purchases of low-priced Russian oil for the reason that conflict in Ukraine started.

On Monday, Dzhaparova warned India in opposition to an over reliance on Russia.

“India should be pragmatic in diversifying its energy resources, military contracts and political interactions. Because what we see in my country when you are dependent on Russia, they will always use this blackmail instrument,” she advised reporters.

India additionally holds the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 main wealthy and growing nations this yr. As host, India has cast itself as a rising superpower whereas leveraging its place on the worldwide stage to bridge the hole between the West and Russia.

Dzhaparova urged India to make use of its presidency to highlight the disaster in Ukraine by inviting Ukrainian officers to the G-20 occasions and summit, which can be held in September.

She mentioned her go to was “a mark of friendship” and hoped it might kickstart Ukraine’s dialogue with India. “Let us make Ukraine more visible in India, let us help Ukraine to tell its own story, let us also bring India closer” to Ukraine, Dzhaparova mentioned.