In the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned visit to Kyiv this week, India has cleared its stand on the war between Russia and Ukraine. Although people thought Modi’s visit might lead to taking the mediatory role, India has categorically dismissed any mediator for two hostile countries. Rather, India has said it stands ready to help Russia and Ukraine in passing messages only if there is an agreement.
Modi’s visit is set for August 23, and it will be both the first visit by a high-ranking official from India to Ukraine after Russia’s attack began in February 2022 and the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since the country’s independence in 1991. Before the call, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, had offered India’s national security adviser that Modi could play a “big part” in it. However, the officials have sternly stated behind-the-scenes messages – that Indians will not mediate directly but can forward messages.
This is in tune with Indian foreign policy that has, to date, been much more inclined to diplomacy than intervention. India, in particular, does not dare publicly condemn Russia since Russia has been a long-time ally and a major arms supplier to India; Russia has also emerged as a major source of crude oil for India after the West imposed sanctions on Russia.
Although India has either voted against or has not supported any resolution in the United Nations regarding Ukraine, it has advocated for a non-violent solution to the crisis. When Modi recently met Putin in Moscow, he pointed out that a conflict cannot be solved through a military showdown, and it takes a safe environment for negotiations.
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