During his meeting with the Russian President in July, Modi said that there was no solution on the battlefield and peace talks do not succeed amid bombs, guns and bullets…reports Asian Lite News
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that India, China and Brazil could mediate in potential peace talks over Ukraine, Reuters reported. Putin said a preliminary agreement reached between negotiators of Russia, Ukraine during the talks held in Istanbul, which was never implemented, could serve as the basis for talks. The two nations held talks in Istanbul during the first few weeks of war in 2022.
Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in a conflict since February 2022. India has called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict.
Earlier on August 23, Modi visited Ukraine, the first Indian PM to the European nation. During the bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, PM Modi emphasised India’s position of peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
“India was never neutral, we have always been on the side of peace,” PM Modi told Zelenskyy. He said that India was ready to play an active role in the path to peace and progress.
During Modi’s visit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed confidence that India had a role to bring peace to the conflict ridden region.
Ukrainian President said, “India will play its role. I think that India began to recognise that this is not just conflict, this is real war of one man and his name is Putin against whole country whose name is Ukraine. You are a big country. You have a big influence and you can stop Putin and halt his economy, and put him really in his place.”
Earlier in July, Modi visited Russia and held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It was Modi’s first visit to Russia since the war started between Moscow and Kyiv in 2022.
During his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in July, Modi said that there is no solution on the battlefield and added that peace talks do not succeed amid bombs, guns and bullets.
During his talks with Putin, Modi said, “As a friend, I have always said that for the bright future of our coming generations, peace is of utmost importance. But I also know that solutions are not possible on battlegrounds. Amid bombs, guns and bullets, solutions and peace talks do not succeed. We will have to follow the path to peace only through talks.”
During his meeting with Putin, Modi said that everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is a loss of lives. He further stated that it is “heart-wrenching” when innocent children are dying.
Modi had said, “Be it war, conflicts, terror attacks – everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives. But when innocent children are murdered, when we see innocent children dying, it is heartbreaking. That pain is immense. I also held a detailed discussion with you over this.”
India has so far not publicly censured Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and it has largely abstained on all Ukraine-related resolutions at the United Nations. It has ramped up purchases of discounted Russian commodities, especially oil. The Indian side has emphasised that it is ready to play an active role in all peace efforts.
Currently, as Ukrainian troops are engaged in Russia’s Kursk region, Moscow is making advances in the eastern part of Ukraine, which it has been occupying since February 2022. Both countries have been launching massive drone attacks on each other, targeting key infrastructures.
Following Ukraine’s Kursk move, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, on August 19, that talks were out of the question. Ukraine controls more than 1,200 square km in the region now, it said.
In the past, Putin himself has said that dialogues with Ukraine would need to start with Zelensky’s acceptance of “realities on the ground.” This would mean Ukraine recognising Russia’s control over significant portions of four Ukrainian regions, as well as Crimea.
India, known for its historical non-alignment and strategic balancing between major global powers, presents a complex yet promising option for mediation. India’s relationships both with Russia and the West are characterized by strategic partnerships and pragmatic diplomacy. Its experience in multilateral negotiations and its role in global forums such as BRICS contribute to its potential effectiveness as a mediator. Nonetheless, India’s strategic interests and its balancing act between competing powers could influence its impartiality and effectiveness. India’s ability to navigate these complex relationships will be critical in determining its success as a mediator in the Ukraine conflict.
The international response to Putin’s mediation proposal has been mixed, reflecting a range of strategic interests and concerns. The European Union (EU) has expressed scepticism, perceiving the proposal as a potential political manoeuvre rather than a genuine effort towards peace. This cautious stance underscores concerns about the effectiveness of the proposed mediation in the absence of concrete commitments from Russia regarding conflict resolution.
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