‘India a world leader’: Ukraine seeks New Delhi’s support as it hopes Trump will end war with Russia

With Donald Trump becoming the 47th US president, and Israel and Hamas having entered a ceasefire agreement, focus has shifted to the other big theatre of war — Europe. The Russia-Ukraine war is nearing its third anniversary, but without any formal talks to end the military conflict. Trump made ending the war one of his campaign promises. Now, Ukraine says that it expects India and a few other countries to play a role in bringing a negotiated end to the war.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s close aide and Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, has told Indian journalists that with its global standing India can “play a big role” in resolving the military conflict. Though a lot depends on the Trump administration that was sworn in in the US on Monday.

Ukraine pins hope on Trump

Yermak said, “We are looking very positively at the role of the United States and President Trump for ending this war. We are looking at starting consultations with the new US administration.”

“We will not lose time and immediately start working towards it (after Trump’s inauguration),” he said.

Ukraine is pushing for an early start of talks with the newly sworn-in Donald Trump administration in the United States to bring peace in the country and the rest of Europe. Kyiv also said that India was in a position to play a big role in bringing lasting peace in the conflict-struck nation.

On February 24, Russia-Ukraine will complete three years. Trump, at a campaign rally in June last year, said, “Before I even arrive at the Oval Office, shortly after we win the presidency, I will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine settled.”

However, such a 24-hour promise to end the Russia-Ukraine war was never a real possibility but it did generate hope of speedier negotiations to end the conflict.

India can play ‘a big role’

On what Ukraine hopes from India, Yermak said Kyiv was looking at non-West countries like India and South Africa – with global influence — to play a role in that.

“India is one of the biggest democracies in the world, and not just regional, but a world leader, and its position can play a big role. During the last two years, we have held a lot of meetings on the platform of the peace formula, which was mooted in Switzerland,” he said.

“I am waiting to continue dialogue with my Indian colleague Ajit Doval (national security advisor) with whom we have worked all this period of time,” Yermak further said.

“The global goal is to end this war, I am sure the position of India that this war has to end is extremely important, not just by some temporary ceasefire but by bringing peace,” he said.

UK-based Baroness Helena Kennedy, International Human Rights Lawyer & Labour member of the House of Lords, was also present in the virtual interaction with Yermak. Kennedy spoke on the devastating humanitarian crisis facing children in war-torn areas, particularly Ukrainian children who have been forcibly displaced or deported from their homes.

Kennedy highlighted the alarming situation of Ukrainian children allegedly abducted by Russian forces, estimating that between 10,000 to 19,000 children have been taken under the pretense of safety. She even emphasised the severe psychological impact this could have on the children, and of them losing their sense of identity and memory.

Both Yermak and Kennedy sought India’s help in bringing Ukrainian children back, especially since PM Modi could intervene and evacuate Indian medical students stuck in Ukraine at the beginning of the war, Yermak said.

“Of course, President Zelenskyy discussed this issue with Prime Minister Modi during his visit to Kyiv [in August 2024] and he said India is ready to participate and be involved in this process to help bring back Ukrainian children. India has a really big influence on Russia, they can have this opportunity to help. We count on India’s participation,” Yermak said.

With inputs from agencies