Brussels - "Jerusalem" dot com - (dpa) - The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, indirectly asked India to support the measures being taken against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine.

"We urge all members of the international community to support our efforts for a lasting peace," Der von der Leyen said during her visit to New Delhi on Monday.

The European Commission President added that the European Union has designed its sanctions to remain for a longer period of time, adding that "this gives us a tool of pressure to reach a diplomatic solution that will achieve lasting peace."

She also recalled her visit to the town of Bucha, near Kiev, where Russian forces were reported to have committed war crimes, and stressed the importance of ensuring that "unprovoked aggression unjustified by strategic failure" leads to Yemen.

It is noteworthy that India condemned the massacre of civilians in Bucha, but at the same time refrained from criticizing the Russian invasion, and maintains close diplomatic, commercial and military relations with Russia, as it buys oil at a cheap price, after European countries imposed sanctions on Russia in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is also very dependent on Russian arms supplies.

The European Union and India also plan to launch a joint trade and technology council in an effort to boost cooperation between them.

"Both sides agree that the rapid changes in the geopolitical environment underscore the need for deep and joint strategic cooperation," von der Leyen said in a statement.

She added that the agreement would allow them to coordinate artistic work and submit reports to the political level.

Bloomberg news agency quoted an informed source as saying that this move is part of a broader European plan to accelerate trade talks with India.

The source, who requested anonymity, added that the federation seeks to provide India with a viable alternative to diversify away from Russia.

Von der Leyen is planning to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It should be noted that the European Union is India's third largest trading partner with a merchandise trade volume of 62.8 billion euros (67.8 billion dollars).