Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in war-torn Ukraine on Friday, just weeks after his visit to Russia for a bilateral summit. This visit takes place at a critical moment in the conflict and is particularly important for Western-backed Kyiv as it seeks to gain support from countries in the Global South. Modi had previously expressed his intention to discuss “perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
A recent Bloomberg report indicated that Modi has agreed to convey messages between Putin and Zelensky, although he will not serve as a formal mediator. India has consistently emphasized the need for peace through “dialogue and diplomacy” and advocates for a “human-centric” approach.
Modi’s visit comes shortly after his trip to Moscow for a bilateral summit with Vladimir Putin, which occurred even as Russian missiles were striking various locations in Ukraine, resulting in numerous casualties. Zelensky had described this interaction as “a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts,” criticizing Modi for his warm embrace of Putin.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted that “India has substantial and independent ties with both Russia and Ukraine, and these relationships stand on their own. This is not a zero-sum game. The Prime Minister has also visited Russia, where many ideas were discussed, and he has met President Zelensky on a few occasions over the past year. They are set to meet again in Ukraine,” the MEA stated earlier this week.
