Dmytro Kuleba in Delhi: India's stand on Ukraine war in PM Modi's 5 statements

Dmytro Kuleba, the Foreign Minister of war-torn Ukraine, arrived in New Delhi on Thursday. Kuleba is on a two-day trip to the country to boost bilateral ties and cooperation between Kyiv and New Delhi. His visit marks the first one by a Ukrainian Foreign Minister to India in seven years.

Over the course of the two days, Kuleba will meet his Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar and the Deputy National Security Adviser Vikram Misri.

Ahead of these high-profile meetings, here’s a look at India’s stand on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war in five points, as specified by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in various speeches and comments:

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1- Focus on dialogue and diplomacy: From the start of the war, PM Modi has remained steadfast on India’s stance that the violence in Ukraine must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. He has said multiple times that this is not an era of war, and urged for an end to the hostilities. In an interview, he said, “some people say that we are neutral. But we are not neutral. We are on the side of peace […] Disputes should be resolved with ‘diplomacy and dialogue’, not war.”

2- People-centric approach: On March 20, PM Modi dialled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While discussing the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, he spoke of India’s people-centric approach and called for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward. He underscored that India supports all efforts for an early and peaceful resolution of all issues between Kyiv and Moscow. PM Modi promised that India would continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution.

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3- Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity: In June, 2023, PM Modi addressed the Joint Session of the US Congress. He said that the war in Europe is causing great pain in the region. “The global order is based on the respect for the principles of the UN Charter, peaceful resolution of disputes, and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said. PM Modi stressed that this is not an era of war.

4- Immediate cessation of violence: In April 2022, just months after the war began, the then-Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, visited India. The two leaders discussed the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war. PM Modi expressed deep concern at the mounting humanitarian crisis. He stressed for the immediate cessation of violence.

5- Concern for safety of Indian citizens in Ukraine: On February 26, two days after the war began, President Zelenskyy briefed the PM Modi about the situation in Ukraine. The Indian leader conveyed India’s strong concern for the safety and security of Indian citizens, including students, present in Ukraine and sought facilitation by Ukrainian authorities to swiftly and safely evacuate Indian citizens.