During his European tour, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kiev, as well as Poland, on August 23, 2024. This planned visit was the first of its kind by the head of the Indian Government to Ukraine since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations in 1992 with the former republic of the Soviet Union.
Kiev has been waiting for the Indian Prime Minister to visit for a long time and V. Zelensky confirmed the invitation to Narendra Modi during meetings with him on the side-lines of the G7 summits in Japan and Italy in 2023-2024. Ukraine reacted negatively, albeit cautiously, to N. Modi’s visit to Russia in July, 2024. This caused a sharp reaction from New Delhi and the Ukrainian ambassador was even summoned to the country’s Foreign Ministry for explanations. India’s Western partners (primarily the US) were also dissatisfied with the Indian Prime Minister’s first foreign trip to Moscow after the parliamentary elections, but they did not dare put pressure on Delhi, given the weight and status of the power, known for its independent foreign policy approaches and the particularly privileged nature of strategic partnership relations between Russia and India.
Taking this into account, the Indian leadership’s decision on contacts with Ukraine at the highest level in the context of its armed confrontation with Russia was not easy. However, in the context of the not-so-convincing victory of Narendra Modi’s party in the recent elections and the alarming events in neighbouring Bangladesh, it was important for the Indian Prime Minister to demonstrate the independence of the country’s foreign policy, his leadership capabilities and India’s status as one of the leading powers of the Global South in an attempt to make at least some contribution to the settlement of the most acute international problem today, i.e. the situation surrounding Ukraine.
New Delhi’s balanced, neutral position
It should be noted that from the very beginning of the Ukrainian crisis and the direct armed conflict between Kiev and Moscow, the Indian leadership has taken a balanced, neutral position and advocated for a peaceful solution to the problem through dialogue and negotiations. This openly pacifist attitude of New Delhi and its constant calls for a political settlement of the conflict were caused both by such a focus of the country’s foreign policy and its desire, first of all, to develop a strategic partnership with Russia and maintain traditionally friendly ties with Ukraine.
It should be noted that prior to the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in 2022, bilateral relations steadily developed in various fields, trade turnover grew, reaching $3 billion, cooperation in the field of defence, space, science, technology, culture, education and especially agriculture strengthened. Tens of thousands of Indian students studied at Ukrainian universities, the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation worked successfully, and intensive contacts were maintained between the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Defence and other departments of both countries.
Of course, after the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, these ties weakened, but nevertheless continued to be maintained in a number of areas. India is particularly interested in continuing military-industrial cooperation in the field of civil aviation.
New Delhi supports finding a peaceful political solution to the conflict
Acting as a peacemaker and calling for an end to the conflict, Narendra Modi did not, however, make the decision to act as a mediator, since India itself does not allow any role of a third party in resolving its difficult relations with China and Pakistan. He limited himself to the willingness to facilitate the transmission of messages and positions of the parties in search of a peaceful political solution to the problem. India, apparently, does not expect more and would like to demonstrate the country’s authority to the world with its peacekeeping, including shuttle diplomacy, and raise its role in the peaceful resolution of conflict situations.
At the same time, following his neutral line vis-à-vis Ukraine and taking into account his recent trip to Moscow and the negative position of the West in this regard, the head of the Indian government’s visit to Kiev demonstrates the balanced nature of the country’s foreign policy and interest in finding a way out of the impasse in the negotiation process of the parties.
It was with such noble intentions that N. Modi arrived in Kiev on August 23. During his short stay in the capital of Ukraine, he held purposeful talks with V. Zelensky. During their conversation, they confirmed their course to continue political contacts, maintain trade, economic and especially military-defence cooperation in the agreed volumes. India is interested in modernising military equipment purchased from Ukraine, including about 100 AN-32 military transport aircraft, ship engines, various systems and warship turbines. It is significant that despite the military actions, Ukraine continues – although not in full – to fulfil its obligations to India in the field of military-technical cooperation and supplies of agricultural products.
As expected, the main topic of negotiations between the parties was the situation around the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The Indian Prime Minister did not agree with the assessments of the hosts that Delhi, as they said, “does not condemn the aggressive actions” of Moscow against Kiev. Modi made it clear that India is an ardent opponent of any war and armed conflict and always advocates for a peaceful solution to all problems through dialogue and diplomacy. In the case of Ukraine, India insists on an immediate cessation of hostilities and the start of negotiations to resolve the situation by political means.
Modi ignored Ukraine’s hostile anti-Russian actions
India, unlike a number of countries, for example, China and Brazil, is not proposing any specific settlement plan and does not seek to be a mediator. Nevertheless, it insists on calling for a cessation of hostilities. Despite calls from the West and Ukraine, Delhi refrains from joining anti-Russian sanctions and does not degrade relations with Russia. India also did not support the appeal made during the visit by V. Zelensky to stop the significantly increased imports of Russian energy resources, primarily oil, to the country, which led to an increase in bilateral trade turnover to $65 billion. Ukraine’s trade turnover with India decreased from $3 billion to $700 million.
Modi ignored other hostile anti-Russian actions by Ukraine, demonstrating Delhi’s intention to continue broad cooperation with Russia and at the same time develop ties with Ukraine, including in trade, economic, defence and other areas. India confirmed its readiness to continue providing humanitarian assistance by signing a corresponding document at the end of the visit. Agreements on cooperation in agriculture, healthcare and culture were also concluded.
V. Zelensky appealed to N. Modi to continue his active participation in the ongoing global peace summits on Ukraine and to join the adopted documents. New Delhi, however, did not react to this message from Ukraine, preferring to maintain a balanced and more neutral position.
In general, the Indian Prime Minister’s first visit to Kiev was held in a rather restrained manner and did not affect New Delhi’s approach to Ukrainian affairs. Narendra Modi, however, once again succeeded in positioning India as an important peacemaker and all the statements of the Prime Minister were riddled with calls for peace and dialogue with Russia.
With his trip to Ukraine, the Indian prime minister once again demonstrated the balance in his country’s foreign policy, its intention to further develop ties with Russia and the West, without forgetting about Ukraine. V. Zelensky was invited to pay a visit to India, but it is clear that he is not excited by trips to countries that take more balanced and sober positions on the Ukrainian conflict, although India is undoubtedly one of the leaders of the Global South and other key international players are listening to its voice.
The current trip of the Indian leader has added authority and prestige to the global power, which is playing an increasingly significant role in the international arena.
Anvar Azimov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Senior Scientific Researcher at the Moscow State University of Foreign Affairs (MGIMO), exclusively for the online magazine «New Eastern Outlook»
