Ukraine counting on India as peacemaker in war with Russia: Report

After more than two years of war, Ukraine is now counting on India to play peacemaker in the conflict with Russia, according to a report.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, there have been multiple rounds of peacemaking efforts, but none has borne fruit. In the initial weeks of the war, talks between Russia and Ukraine were facilitated by Turkey and a draft peace agreement had also emerged , but talks fizzled out over Russian demands.

Now, as India remains the only major nation with constant open channels with both the countries, Ukraine has hopes with India, according to Politico.

Despite India’s historically close ties with Russia, India appears to be open to a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine War that may be acceptable to Ukraine .

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So far, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly said a surrender to end the war is not acceptable. He has also rejected proposals by Russia, which have also been nearly repeated by Donald Trump’s camp in the United States, about ending the war with cessation of provinces.

As India has cordial relations with both the countries, calls have mounted over time for India to play a major role in resolving the conflict between Ukraine and Russia .

India sympathetic to Ukrainian concerns: Ukrainian official

Even as India continues to maintain close ties with Russia, which has drawn Western as well Ukrainian ire after the Russian invasion, India has been sympathetic to Ukraine’s concerns about the resolution of the conflict, according to a senior Ukrainian official.

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A high-ranking Ukrainian official told Politico that Ukraine is indeed counting on India regarding peace efforts.

During his visit to Ukraine last month, Modi was clear in discussions that while Ukraine would inevitably need to compromise on some things for the war to end, any proposals to end the war should not include giving up territory to Russia, said the high-ranking Ukrainian official to the magazine.

Separately, Ukrainian Foreign Minister told Politico that India is a “reliable partner” and is a “global force” that can contribute to the peace formula.

“I can say that India is a reliable partner for Ukraine and it is a global force that can influence the dynamics and the course of events in the world and we want to see India’s participation in the peace formula process as India can make a difference," said Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi.

What we know of India’s role in Ukraine-Russia War

In the wake of frequent high-level Indian exchanges with Russia and Ukraine, there have been reports that India may be playing a mediator behind the scenes.

Since the outbreak of the war, India has called for the two sides to engage and resolve the conflict through dialogue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly stated that a solution cannot be found on the battlefield.

Following Modi’s visit to Ukraine, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval travelled earlier this month to Kyiv and met his counterpart Sergei Shoigu and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The PTI reported that the talks between Modi and Zelenskyy the previous month had figured in Doval’s talks.

Previously, the NDTV had reported sources as saying that Doval was scheduled to meet top Russian officials and present a peace proposal outlined by Modi . The sources said that Doval would present the proposal to Putin.

After Modi returned from Kyiv last month, he held talks with Putin over phone and it was during that conversation that it was decided that Doval would travel to Russia for talks regarding the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine War, according to NDTV.

After Doval’s talks with Shoigu and Putin, Hindustan Times reported that Doval indeed carried a message from Modi to Putin regarding the Ukraine war.

The newspaper reported that Doval told Putin that Modi was keen to brief him regarding Ukraine and had dispatched him as a messenger.

“He [Modi] was keen to brief you about his visit to Ukraine and his meeting with President Zelenskyy. He wanted me to come especially and personally to brief you about the talks. The conversation was in a very close format—only the two leaders. I attended the conversation,” said Doval to Putin, as per HT.

The newspaper reported that Modi during his visit to Ukraine shared “interesting ideas” with Zelenskyy that had previously been discussed in July with Putin during Modi’s visit to Russia.

Doval accompanied Modi on both of the visits to Kyiv and Moscow is deeply involved in the peace initiative which aim to find a solution to the conflict in Ukraine, according to the newspaper.