On August 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is much awaited to visit Ukraine, is scheduled to hold “peace talks” with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
About six weeks have passed since the PM’s visit to Moscow, during which he spoke about the ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine.
PM Modi has continuously argued that the two countries should end their hostilities via negotiation and diplomacy. He underlined, “As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region,” in a statement released before his departure, expressing his intention to speak with Zelenskyy about the “peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict”.
The Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to wartime Kyiv underscores India’s position of neutrality in the conflict. During his previous stop in Moscow, Modi described Russia as an “all-weather friend” and commended President Vladimir Putin for reinforcing bilateral ties over the past two decades despite the West’s efforts to isolate the Russian leader since the onset of the conflict.
However, Modi’s Moscow visit drew sharp criticism from Zelenskyy, who labelled it a “huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts.”
Zelenskyy’s remarks came on a particularly tragic day when a Russian missile struck a children’s hospital in Ukraine, impacting young cancer patients.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy expressed his dismay, stating, “It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world’s largest democracy hug the world’s most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day.”
As Modi prepares for his meeting with Zelenskyy, observers are keen to see how he will navigate the complexities of India’s relationship with Kyiv following his Moscow visit. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to President Zelenskyy, highlighted the significance of Modi’s visit, noting that New Delhi “really has a certain influence” over Moscow.
“It’s extremely important for us to effectively build relations with such countries, to explain to them what the correct end to the war is – and that it is also in their interests,” Podolyak stated to Reuters.
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