 "PM Modi to visit Ukraine on August 23: What is India's stance on the Russia war?")
It’s official.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is heading to Ukraine.
Modi will visit Ukraine on August 23 at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Modi will make history with the visit – becoming the first Indian prime minister to travel to Ukraine since the two countries established diplomatic relations.
Tanmaya Lal, West Secretary, the Ministry of External Affairs, said “PM Narendra Modi will undertake an official visit to Ukraine later this week on Friday, August 23, on the invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This is also a landmark and a historic visit since this will be the first time an Indian PM will be visiting Ukraine in more than 30 years since we established our diplomatic relations. This visit will build upon the recent high-level interactions between the leaders…”
Modi’s trip comes just a month after he visited Russia and Austria.
But what has India’s stance been on the Ukraine war?
Let’s take a closer look:
India’s stance on war
Since the war began in February 2022, India has essentially adopted a neutral stance.
New Delhi has consistently pushed dialogue and diplomacy as a way to resolve the crisis, while not condemning Russia or joining Western sanctions against Putin.
As per Indian Express, New Delhi has sought to balance ties with both the West and Russia at a difficult time.
It has stated that its ties with Moscow are the result of a long-standing strategic partnership – which is completely separate issue from the current geopolitical crisis.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts‘Not era of war’
Modi in September 2022 made headlines by telling Russian President Vladimir Putin that ‘today’s era is not of war.’
“I know that today’s era is not an era of war, and I have spoken to you on the phone about this,” Modi said at a face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit.
“Today we will get the opportunity to talk about how we can progress on the path of peace. India and Russia have stayed together with each other for several decades.”
Modi’s remarks were widely picked up by the media.
CNN stated, “Indian leader Narendra Modi tells Putin: Now is not the time for war”
The Washington Post reported, “Modi rebukes Putin over war in Ukraine”.
“India’s Leader Tells Putin That Now Is Not an Era for War,” The New York Times wrote.
The remarks made lead story on the webpage of both The Washington Post and The New York Times.
Japanese publication NHK’s headline was “Indian PM Modi tells Putin to pursue peace”, while Hong Kong-based leading daily South China Morning Post reported: Now is ‘not a time for war’, India’s Modi tells Russia’s Putin who vows to ‘end this as soon as possible.’
Politico reported; “India’s Modi tells Putin: This is ‘not the era for war” and US News headline was “Indian PM Modi Tells Russia’s Putin Now ‘Is Not an Era of War”.
Putin said that he knows about India’s position on the Ukraine conflict and “we want all of this to end as soon as possible”.
“I know about your position on the Ukraine conflict. I know about your concerns. We want all of this to end as soon as possible,” Putin said.
India at the Bali G20 Summit in November 2022 echoed PM Modi’s remarks in the declaration.
“It is essential to uphold international law and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability. This includes defending all the Purposes and Principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and adhering to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and infrastructure in armed conflicts. The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible. The peaceful resolution of conflicts, efforts to address crises, as well as diplomacy and dialogue, are vital. Today’s era must not be of war.”
‘India is not neutral’
Modi, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal in June 2023, Modi said India was on the side of peace.
“Some people say that we are neutral. But we are not neutral. We are on the side of peace. All countries should respect international law and the sovereignty of countries,” Modi said.
Modi called for “diplomacy and dialogue” to resolve the issue.
“India will do whatever it can” and supports “all genuine efforts to bring an end to the conflict and ensure enduring peace and stability,” he added.
‘States must refrain from use of force’
India at the G20 Summit in September in the declaration stated, “Today’s era must not be of war.”
“All states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state,” the declaration stated.
“We call on all states to uphold the principles of international law including territorial integrity and sovereignty, international humanitarian law, and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability. The peaceful resolution of conflicts, and efforts to address crises as well as diplomacy and dialogue are critical. We will unite in our endeavour to address the adverse impact of the war on the global economy and welcome all relevant and constructive initiatives that support a comprehensive, just, and durable peace in Ukraine that will uphold all the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter for the promotion of peaceful, friendly, and good neighbourly relations among nations in the spirit of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’.”
‘Take stand for common man’
In May, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, addressing an interactive session in Odisha’s Cuttack, said, “We take a stand on foreign policy for average citizens,"
“Look at one example. We had this pressure on Russia and Ukraine. We were clear. Suppose we had not been clear. Suppose we had said. Sorry. Sorry. You are saying it very strongly. We will not do what we did. Your petrol price would have gone up by Rs 20 because of that,” Jaishankar was quoted as saying by The Hindu.
So foreign policy today affects every citizen, it affects our lives," he added.
“When we talk about Ukraine if today the price of petrol is lower, it’s because we had the courage to buy oil from Russia. If there are other matters related to security or the respect earned by Modi ji during the COVID times, it’s because of his diplomacy that Indians stranded in the Gulf region returned home safely,” Jaishankar added.
‘Sincere practical engagement’
In June, a top Indian diplomat said New Delhi believes only a “sincere and practical engagement” between Russia and Ukraine can lead to a lasting peace, Hindustan Times reported.
The MEA’s Secretary (West) Pavan Kapoor made the remarks at a Swiss peace summit attended by more than 90 countries.
Kapoor said India’s participation in the summit was in line “with our clear and consistent approach that enduring peace can be achieved only through dialogue and diplomacy.”
“We continue to believe that such a peace requires bringing together all stakeholders and a sincere and practical engagement between the two parties to the conflict.”
New Delhi said while it will engage with all stakeholders and the two parties to the conflict to “contribute to all earnest efforts to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine,”, had taken the decision not to be part of a joint communique.
“In our view, only those options acceptable to both parties can lead to abiding peace. In line with this approach, we have decided to avoid association with the joint communique or any other document emerging from this summit,” Kapoor said.
‘Problems cannot be solved on battlefield’
Modi in July made a high-profile visit to Russia – his first since 2019 and after Moscow’s invasion of Kyiv – for the 22nd India-Russia annual summit.
Modi said that a solution to the Ukraine conflict is not possible on the battlefield and peace talks do not succeed amidst bombs, guns and bullets.
“For a bright future of the new generation, peace is most essential. A solution is not possible on the battlefield… Peace talks do not succeed amidst bombs, guns and bullets,” he said.
“For restoration of peace, India is ready to cooperate in all possible ways,” Modi said.
‘Emphasise dialogue and diplomacy’
Modi reiterated his stance on Ukraine on a trip to Vienna.
“This is not a time for war. Problems cannot be solved on the battlefield. The loss of innocent lives, anywhere, is unacceptable,” Modi said as per News18.
Modi make the remarks in a meeting with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer.
“India and Austria emphasise dialogue and diplomacy for the earliest possible restoration of peace and stability,” Modi added.
With inputs from agencies
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