Official Kyiv wants to see India as a moderator of negotiations with Russia during the upcoming international peace conference, according to a report by Bloomberg. The Ukrainian ambassador to New Delhi, Alexander Polishchuk, conveyed this sentiment, stating that India should not merely act as a “postman passing messages between Ukraine and Russia” but should assume a more active role in facilitating peace efforts between Moscow and Kyiv.
Polishchuk emphasized that if India aims for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC), it should not settle for a passive role. “If India is aiming for a permanent seat in the UNSC to serve its own interest, it is setting the bar too low,” Bloomberg quoted him as saying. The envoy’s comments suggest that Ukraine views a proactive role by India as integral to its peace initiatives.
In a recent development, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar addressed the issue while in Berlin, stating that India is open to any serious efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict. However, Jaishankar stressed that Russia’s involvement is crucial for any meaningful negotiation. “For us, this is not about a process or about being seen to do something. What is important for us is the reality of the conflict that is taking place today,” Jaishankar explained, highlighting India’s commitment to a practical approach towards conflict resolution.
Jaishankar’s remarks followed a period of heightened diplomatic activity, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visits to Kyiv and Moscow. The Indian Foreign Minister asserted that differences and disputes cannot be resolved through war and emphasized that a successful peace process requires Russia’s participation. India’s position is guided by several principles, including the belief that no resolution will emerge from the battlefield and that meaningful negotiations must include all relevant parties.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, after his meeting with Modi in Kyiv, suggested that India could host the next “peace summit.” This follows a recent conference in Switzerland that excluded Russia, a move that has caused some discontent in New Delhi. Zelenskyy indicated that India’s role could be pivotal if New Delhi agreed to sign the communique from the Swiss-hosted event, a request that India declined due to Russia’s exclusion.
India’s decision not to sign the joint communique has been perceived as a blow to the peace efforts championed by Modi. Foreign policy analysts suggest that this development has strained India’s diplomatic relations with Ukraine. Nevertheless, Modi has reiterated that India remains committed to peace and is not a neutral or indifferent bystander in the conflict.
Jaishankar’s comments were made in the context of preparation for a visit by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to New Delhi in October, further illustrating the intricate diplomatic landscape surrounding the Ukraine conflict.
