EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has warned of growing threats to open and free societies in Europe and Asia in India, the world's most populous democracy.

The world is at a crucial moment.

“Our response today to Russia's aggression will decide the future of both the international system and the global economy.

Will abominable devastation prevail or will humanity prevail?” von der Leyen asked in a speech in New Delhi on Monday.

She recalled the mass graves and corpses on the streets in Bucha that she saw during her visit to Ukraine two weeks ago.

Till Fähnders

Political correspondent for Southeast Asia.

  • Follow I follow

The warning should be understood as an indirect appeal to the Indian government to reconsider its "neutral" position with regard to the Russian war of aggression.

India is calling for a ceasefire and has also condemned the Bucha massacre.

However, New Delhi has not yet named Russia as an aggressor.

According to reports, the Europeans now want to increase their arms supplies in order to make India less dependent on Russian imports.

Referring to sanctions, von der Leyen said the EU is calling on all members of the international community to support the peace efforts.

Johnson recently visited

Von der Leyen also countered the impression that the war did not affect Asia.

The core principles on which peace and security are based worldwide are under threat in Asia as well as in Europe.

She referred to Russia's cooperation with China, which is in conflict with India in the Himalayas over the course of the common border.

Moscow and Beijing declared their "boundless friendship" in February: "Then the invasion of Ukraine followed." She referred to rising prices for grain, energy and fertilizer as a result of the war in Asia as well.

"What is happening in Ukraine has an impact on the Indo-Pacific region," von der Leyen said.

The two-day visit is part of the West's effort to untangle India from Russia through cooperation.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had recently visited New Delhi.

At the beginning of May, Modi will chair the Indo-German government consultations with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

In India, von der Leyen agreed with Modi to set up a Trade and Technology Council, which will strengthen the EU's trade and economic ties with India.

As von der Leyen explained at the beginning of her conversation with Modi, such a council has so far only existed between the EU and the US.