On Monday, Denis Alipov, the Russian Ambassador to India, stated that Moscow is aware of reports that Pakistan is supplying arms to Ukraine to aid in its fight against Russia.
If the reports are true, Alipov claimed they would amount to “explicit anti-Russian actions” that cannot be ignored.
#WATCH | On reports of Pakistan sending arms to Ukraine, Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov says, "Yes, there have been reports and information about such instances, we take this information very seriously. Such examples, if confirmed, is a very explicit anti-Russia actions… pic.twitter.com/ycJbFnnDvo
— ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2023
Overview
Denis Alipov said in an interview with ANI, “Yes, there have been reports and information about such instances. We take this information very seriously. Such examples, if confirmed, are very explicit anti-Russia actions that we cannot ignore.”
“As I said, we have watched very closely the news and the reports and take them very seriously because they influence the situation on the ground very directly and do not go contrary to the efforts aimed towards the quickest and fastest, peaceful resolution of the conflict,” he added.
Regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, Ambassador Denis Alipov stated that Moscow is seeking a peaceful resolution, but Kyiv refuses to cooperate. He added Ukraine has frequently declared that it is not interested in talks with Russia.
As per the reports, Islamabad has been strengthening ties with Moscow in recent months, and this year it started purchasing cheap Russian crude oil to meet local demand.
Pakistan to send military aid to Ukraine including 10,000 Grad rounds writes Economic Times. It will arrive in Ukraine through the German port of Emden with subsequent transit through Poland. https://t.co/fkXQxDiclL
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) February 12, 2023
Reports of Pakistan Supplying Arms to Ukraine
According to the Economic Times (ET) report this year, a consignment of over 10,000 rockets planned for use in Grad multi-barrel rocket launchers was sent from a Karachi port to Ukraine.
The report claimed rocket supplies were transported from the Karachi Port in early February and reached Ukraine via the Emden Port in Germany.
ET reported that Pakistan had increased ammunition and other defence supplies via third-party nations bordering Ukraine. Karachi-based shipping company Project Shipping reportedly facilitated the shipping of 146 containers from Pakistan Ordnance Factories in January.
DMI Associates, located in Islamabad, has partnered with defence manufacturers in Eastern Europe to transfer orders placed by the Ukrainian military. In exchange, Ukraine agreed to help Pakistan improve its Mi-17 helicopters.
Increasing Ties Between Ukraine, Pakistan
Despite the ongoing conflict with Russia, relations between Ukraine and Pakistan are reportedly consistently growing. Islamabad began purchasing wheat from Kyiv early this year and is apparently supplying other defensive equipment to the war-torn country.
Ukraine and Pakistan have strong military and industrial ties. Pakistan has acquired around 320 Ukrainian T-80UD tanks in service with a well-developed ecosystem for their maintenance, use, ammunition, and spare parts.
Pakistan and Ukraine agreed in 2021 to strengthen military ties, notably in defence production, training, counterterrorism actions, and intelligence fields, ET reported.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also visited Pakistan for a day last month, the first ministerial visit from Ukraine since the two nations established diplomatic ties in 1993.