New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia to deepen ties with a “time-tested friend” has put India’s balancing act between Moscow and the West to the ultimate test.
Modi has doubled down on the strategic ties with Russia and announced opening up of two more consulates in the Russian cities of Kazan and Yekaterinburg, besides inking nine agreements in an attempt to broaden the trade and economic basket beyond energy and defence.
Russia offered promises to return Indian nationals stuck on the warfront, while also offering to set up joint ventures in India to address the issue of delayed spare parts to the Indian military.
Modi also raised the issue of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
When meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday, Modi said a “solution cannot be found on the battlefield”. However, this phrase is not new. It was first used by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during his visit to Malaysia this March. However, its latest reiteration indicates that Modi seeks to build on his earlier messaging to Putin in September 2022 that “today’s era is not one of war”.
The phrase eventually made its way to the G20 Declarations in Bali (2022) and New Delhi (2023) and served as the kind of wording that both Moscow and the West could get on board with. French President Emmanuel Macron also made a special mention of it during his address to the UN General Assembly session in late 2022.
During high-level talks at the Grand Kremlin Palace Tuesday, Modi appeared aware that his visit was being keenly watched. “Perhaps, this meeting has garnered global attention in a way that the entire world is focusing on my visit and interpreting it in various ways,” he told Putin.
“India is prepared to cooperate in every possible way for peacebuilding… I feel hopeful for peace,” he added.
The previous day, Modi and Putin held informal talks over a private dinner at Novo-Ogaryovo, the Russian President’s suburban residence outside of Moscow. Discussions went on for four to five hours.
“I was pleased that both of us could openly and extensively discuss our thoughts on Ukraine and made an effort to listen and understand each other’s perspectives with great respect,” he told Putin.
The Russian leader in turn appreciated Modi’s message on peace.
“I appreciate the attention you pay to the most pressing issues, including your efforts to find ways to resolve the Ukraine crisis, primarily through peaceful means,” he told his Indian counterpart.
This was unlike the Ukrainian side which did not appreciate pictures of Modi’s hug with Putin, stating that it amounted to a derailment of peace efforts.
Hours after Modi visited Moscow and embraced Putin on the steps of Novo-Ogaryovo, a Russian missile struck a children’s hospital in Kyiv. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised Modi’s hug with Putin as a “huge disappointment” and a “blow” to peace efforts.
“Whether it’s war, conflict or terror attacks, anyone who believes in humanity is deeply pained when there is loss of life. When innocent children are killed, seeing innocent children being killed is heart-breaking, and that pain is very terrifying. There was also a detailed discussion on this subject with you,” Modi told Putin hours after Zelenskyy’s statement on X.
Not only did Modi’s visit to Russia coincide with the hospital strike but has come while preparations are underway for the NATO Summit in Washington DC.
Zelenskyy and other world leaders will attend the summit from 9-11 July, where attempts will be made to shore up efforts for Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
Nine agreements inked, delays in spare parts addressed
With this visit, India has also sought to deepen ties with a “time-tested” friend.
Though no big-ticket deals were announced, nine agreements primarily in the economic sphere were inked. These include a five-year deal for cooperation in trade, economic and investment spheres in the Russian Far East (2024-2029). Agreements on environment, polar and ocean research, joint investment promotion and pharmacopoeia were also signed.
Modi and Putin also discussed the issue of delayed delivery of spare parts of defence equipment to the Indian military.
“Both sides have a sense of agreement that this would be expedited, including through setting up joint venture partnerships to look into critical spare parts,” Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters in Moscow Tuesday night.
On the issue of Indian nationals stuck in the Russian Army, the Russian side gave “promises” that repatriation would take place immediately, added Kwatra.
The opening of two new Indian consulates in the Russian cities of Kazan and Yekaterinburg was also announced. This will bring the total number of Indian missions in Russia, including the embassy in Moscow, to five.
“The friendship with Russia is something we greatly cherish,” the PM said while addressing the Indian diaspora in Moscow Tuesday.
Modi was also conferred the Order of St Andrew the Apostle, usually awarded to the Imperial Family, ambassadors, and servants of the state. Chinese President Xi Jinping was conferred the same award in 2017.
Expectations of the Global South
When holding high-level delegation talks with Putin, Modi spoke of “global expectations for peace in the Global South”. Since its presidency of the G20 last year, India has been vying for a position as the “voice” of the Global South.
China too, competes for this title. This was seen with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s latest pitch for the need for unity in the region, while addressing a conference marking the 70th anniversary of the ‘Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence’ on 28 June. No official Indian representative had attended this event.
During high-level talks with Putin, Modi raised the issue of fertilisers and fuel shortages brought about by the Ukraine war. He thanked Putin for helping Indian farmers get much-needed access to these two key resources.
“Because of our [India-Russia] trade, we were able to save Indian farmers from the impact of petrol and diesel, protect them from inflation, and bring stability as well,” he told Putin.
The issue of terrorism was also discussed, during which Modi lamented the recent terror attacks on churches and synagogues in Russia’s Dagestan.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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