Modi in Kyiv but shift unlikely in Indian position
NEW DELHI: Ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s “landmark and historic” visit to Ukraine, the Indian government indicated Monday its position on the Russia-Ukraine war – that ensuring peace is possible only through dialogue and diplomacy and the involvement of both parties in any peace initiative – remains unchanged.Modi will undertake a 10-hour journey from Przemysl in Poland, on the border with Ukraine, to arrive in Kyiv on Friday for an 8-hour visit that will see him holding bilateral talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and also interacting with Indian students in Ukraine.
Modi is likely to reiterate India’s position before Zelenskyy, who had described the Indian PM’s embrace of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month as a devastating blow to peace efforts, that it’s ready to offer any assistance within its means for restoration of peace. The “clear and consistent” Indian position has seen it backing peace efforts with the caveat that these must involve Moscow too, but without coming up, unlike China, with any proposal of its own for political settlement or mediation.
As foreign minister S Jaishankar said earlier this year, India is open to the role of a mediator if it’s approached, but it doesn’t want to initiate anything on its own. India has so far not condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine and has also not endorsed Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace plan.
Asked about Modi’s “balancing act” and the apparent pressure from the West under which the visit is happening, MEA secretary (west) Tanmaya Lal said India has broad, substantive and independent ties with both Russia and Ukraine. “This not a zero-sum game,” he said. On Ukraine’s invasion of Russia’s Kursk region, the official reiterated India’s position for a solution through dialogue and diplomacy saying the same was shared by a vast majority of countries.
“Lasting peace can only be achieved through options that are acceptable to both parties and it can only be a negotiated settlement. India continues to engage with all stakeholders,” he said, adding India is also ready to assist reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.
The visit will also look at steps to expand bilateral cooperation, including through restoration of trade to the level it had reached before the war. Lal listed defence cooperation along with agriculture, health and education among the issues both sides will discuss but without sharing any detail about it. Zelenskyy’s office said a number of documents will be signed during the visit, the first by an Indian PM in the history of India-Ukraine relations.
“Prime Minister’s engagements in Kyiv will touch a range of aspects of bilateral ties including political, trade, economic, investments, education, cultural, people-to-people exchanges, humanitarian assistance and others. PM will also interact with the Indian community, including students during the visit. PM’s landmark visit to Ukraine will help further consolidation and expansion of bilateral ties,” said the Indian government in an official statement.
On his way to Kyiv, Modi will also be in Poland on August 21-22 for what will be the first visit by an Indian PM to that country in 45 years. He will call on President Andrzej Sebastian Duda and hold bilateral talks with PM Donald Tusk, while also interacting with the Indian community in Poland.
NEW DELHI: Ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s “landmark and historic” visit to Ukraine, the Indian government indicated Monday its position on the Russia-Ukraine war – that ensuring peace is possible only through dialogue and diplomacy and the involvement of both parties in any peace initiative – remains unchanged.Modi will undertake a 10-hour journey from Przemysl in Poland, on the border with Ukraine, to arrive in Kyiv on Friday for an 8-hour visit that will see him holding bilateral talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and also interacting with Indian students in Ukraine.
Modi is likely to reiterate India’s position before Zelenskyy, who had described the Indian PM’s embrace of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month as a devastating blow to peace efforts, that it’s ready to offer any assistance within its means for restoration of peace. The “clear and consistent” Indian position has seen it backing peace efforts with the caveat that these must involve Moscow too, but without coming up, unlike China, with any proposal of its own for political settlement or mediation.
As foreign minister S Jaishankar said earlier this year, India is open to the role of a mediator if it’s approached, but it doesn’t want to initiate anything on its own. India has so far not condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine and has also not endorsed Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace plan.
Asked about Modi’s “balancing act” and the apparent pressure from the West under which the visit is happening, MEA secretary (west) Tanmaya Lal said India has broad, substantive and independent ties with both Russia and Ukraine. “This not a zero-sum game,” he said. On Ukraine’s invasion of Russia’s Kursk region, the official reiterated India’s position for a solution through dialogue and diplomacy saying the same was shared by a vast majority of countries.
“Lasting peace can only be achieved through options that are acceptable to both parties and it can only be a negotiated settlement. India continues to engage with all stakeholders,” he said, adding India is also ready to assist reconstruction efforts in Ukraine.
The visit will also look at steps to expand bilateral cooperation, including through restoration of trade to the level it had reached before the war. Lal listed defence cooperation along with agriculture, health and education among the issues both sides will discuss but without sharing any detail about it. Zelenskyy’s office said a number of documents will be signed during the visit, the first by an Indian PM in the history of India-Ukraine relations.
“Prime Minister’s engagements in Kyiv will touch a range of aspects of bilateral ties including political, trade, economic, investments, education, cultural, people-to-people exchanges, humanitarian assistance and others. PM will also interact with the Indian community, including students during the visit. PM’s landmark visit to Ukraine will help further consolidation and expansion of bilateral ties,” said the Indian government in an official statement.
On his way to Kyiv, Modi will also be in Poland on August 21-22 for what will be the first visit by an Indian PM to that country in 45 years. He will call on President Andrzej Sebastian Duda and hold bilateral talks with PM Donald Tusk, while also interacting with the Indian community in Poland.