New Delhi: “Lasting peace” between Ukraine and Russia is expected to be the strategic thrust of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Kyiv starting Friday, ThePrint has learnt. The visit to Ukraine, the first since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2022, comes over a month after Modi travelled to Moscow, which drew the ire of the West. New Delhi has attempted to walk a tightrope between the West and Russia, especially after the US and its allies reacted furiously over Modi’s trip to Moscow.
Apart from the ongoing war, diplomatic sources said, talks between Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will cover New Delhi’s potential role in “reconstruction efforts” in parts of Ukraine.
This was also a major part of the agenda of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba’s visit to India in March. In June, India had also attended the Global Peace Summit on the war in Ukraine hosted by Switzerland, though it opted out of the joint communique issued after the meeting.
Talks between Modi and Zelenskyy are expected to cover the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation, including ongoing engagement between joint working groups for trade, economy, culture, pharmaceuticals, and other spheres.
The Indian prime minister will travel first to Poland from 21-22 August and then to Ukraine on 23 August.
‘Not a zero sum game’
In a press briefing Monday, Tanmaya Lal, secretary (west) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said India has substantial ties with both Ukraine and Russia, and that a “negotiated settlement” between the two parties would be key for lasting peace.
“India has substantive and independent ties with both Russia and Ukraine, and these partnerships, they stand on their own. This is not a zero-sum game. The PM had also travelled to Russia. Many ideas were discussed,” Lal told reporters. “The ongoing conflict will form part of the discussions.”
India has also extended humanitarian assistance to war-torn Ukraine, including 16 aid packages, including medicines, power generators and medical equipment, and amounting to roughly 135 tons of material.
The MEA did not confirm whether New Delhi will be presenting a peace plan to the Ukrainian side as other countries, such as China, seeking to play a mediating role have done in the past.
“India has maintained a very clear and consistent position that diplomacy and dialogue can resolve this conflict which can lead to enduring peace. Lasting peace can only be achieved through options that are acceptable to both parties and it can only be a negotiated settlement,” Lal said.
“India continues to engage with all stakeholders…India is willing to provide all possible support and contribution required to help find peaceful solutions to this complex issue,” he added.
Modi’s visit to Moscow in July caused a stir in the West, with Washington expressing disappointment over its “symbolism” and “timing” and adding that it is holding “tough conversations” with India on these concerns.
Zelenskyy had also criticised Modi after the Indian PM was seen hugging Russian President Vladimir Putin on a day when a children’s hospital in Kyiv was struck by a missile. The Ukrainian leader said the Modi-Putin hug was a “blow” to peace efforts.
Modi’s visit to Moscow had also coincided with the July 9-10 NATO summit in Washington in which the West sought to bolster Ukraine against Russia.
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
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The wordings of the statements will be an important thing to watch out for. To go for “Conflict in Ukraine” or “around Ukraine” might be an issue especially now when the conflict has expanded to Russia’s Kursk. It’s also important to see how long can India hold its stand of direct negotiations between the two parties.