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What Modi’s historic Ukraine trip means for India’s peacemaker role, Russia ties
- The Indian prime minister’s visit marks a milestone, but New Delhi’s Moscow links will hamper its ability to influence the conflict
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Narendra Modi’s high-profile visit to Kyiv this weekend struck a delicate balance, signalling India’s continued engagement on both sides of the Ukraine conflict – while offering little prospect of a meaningful breakthrough.
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The Indian prime minister’s arrival in the Ukrainian capital on Friday marked a historic first, with Modi becoming the first Indian leader to set foot in the country since diplomatic ties were established more than three decades ago.
The trip came about six weeks after his much-discussed meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow – a visit that had alarmed Western nations anxious about India’s ties with the Kremlin.
Yet for all the fanfare, analysts were quick to temper expectations, describing Modi’s role as a peacemaker as “limited” and unlikely to fundamentally alter the New Delhi- Moscow relationship.
Before his Kyiv visit, the Indian leader had assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the G7 summit in June that India would continue to support a “peaceful solution” to the conflict – one rooted in “dialogue and diplomacy”. But with Russia’s invasion now in its third year, few expect Modi to wield significant influence over the course of the war.
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, during Friday’s meeting Modi and Zelensky discussed Ukraine’s peace plan, which centres on restoring the country’s territorial integrity and the withdrawal of Russian troops.
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