While Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly declined to serve as a mediator, he is willing to act as a conduit for communication between Ukraine and Russia.
According to Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the matter, Modi is open to relaying messages between Kiev and Moscow. This offer comes ahead of Modi’s anticipated visit to Ukraine, marking the first time an Indian Prime Minister has visited the country since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Modi recently visited Moscow, making his first state visit since winning re-election in June.
Since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, India has consistently called for dialogue and diplomacy. However, unlike its BRICS partners Brazil and China, India has not proposed a peace plan. Modi has reportedly ruled out a role as a mediator in the conflict.
Ukrainskaya Pravda reported that for security reasons, Modi will only spend “a few hours” in Kiev.
Bloomberg reported that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky believes Modi and India are key to Ukraine’s efforts to win over the Global South. India participated in Zelensky’s peace conference in June at a Swiss resort near Lucerne, but did not sign the final declaration. Notably, Russia was not invited to the conference.
During his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which lasted several hours, Modi asserted that the Ukraine conflict cannot be resolved through military means. Afterward, Modi stated that their discussions yielded “very interesting ideas” and “completely new views”, adding that “after listening to President Putin, I have hope.”
The Indian leader highlighted the increasing volume of trade with Russia and the potential for constructing another nuclear power plant.