During a phone call with Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked that he “counts” on India’s support to implement the 10-point peace formula to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In his speech at the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Bali last month, Zelensky announced a peace plan to ensure nuclear safety, food and energy security, releasing all prisoners and deported persons, implementing the United Nations (UN) Charter and restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the world order, withdrawing all Russian troops and a cessation of hostilities, restoring justice, countering ecocide (economic suppression), preventing escalation, and confirming the end of the war.
“India can be more active in efforts to end aggression, so I hope we can do more together for global stability in the coming year,” Zelensky noted in his nightly speech on Monday night.
I had a phone call with @PMOIndia Narendra Modi and wished a successful #G20 presidency. It was on this platform that I announced the peace formula and now I count on India's participation in its implementation. I also thanked for humanitarian aid and support in the UN.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 26, 2022
Modi “strongly reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of hostilities,” saying “both sides should revert to dialogue and diplomacy to find a lasting solution to their differences.” He also communicated India’s “support for any peace efforts,” reassuring Kyiv of New Delhi’s commitment to “continue providing humanitarian assistance for affected civilian population” in Ukraine.
Since the Ukraine war began, India has delivered 99.3 tonnes of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and neighbouring countries, including medicines, blankets, tents, tarpaulin, and medical equipment.
PM Modi also requested the Zelensky administration to “facilitate arrangements for the continued education of Indian students who had to return from Ukraine earlier this year” due to the war. Following Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine in February, India evacuated over 20,000 students studying medicine and engineering in Ukraine. Of these, about 1,000 students have returned to Ukraine to pursue their education.
In fact, Modi also spoke with Zelensky in February and March about creating humanitarian corridors to aid the removal of Indians.
However, during their last phone call in October, Modi asserted that “there can be no military solution to the conflict and conveyed India’s readiness to contribute to any peace efforts” while Zelensky affirmed that “Ukraine will not conduct any negotiations” with Russian President Vladimir Putin in lieu of the “sham” referenda held in the four Russian-occupied territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia in September.
Meanwhile, the two leaders also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation on Monday. Zelensky also conveyed his wishes to Modi for a “fruitful” G20 presidency this year. In response, Modi explained the priorities of India’s G20 presidency, including “giving a voice to the concerns of developing nations on issues like food and energy security.”
In a televised address, Ukraine Prez Zelenskyy says, 'India can be more active in efforts to end aggression' as he mentions about his telephonic conversation with PM Modi on Monday. pic.twitter.com/Egx4LelWXQ
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) December 27, 2022
The talk between Modi and Zelensky came 10 days after the Indian leader spoke with Putin, when he “reiterated his call for dialogue and diplomacy as the only way forward,” as Russia ramped up attacks on Ukraine. In fact, their conversation came against the backdrop of reports that Modi is skipping the India-Russia Annual Summit with Putin to be held in Moscow this year due to Russia’s escalating threats to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
However, an unnamed Russian official told Bloomberg that India had made its position clear during Modi’s meeting with Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in September, when the Indian leader said, “I know that today’s era is not of war,” in a reference to the Ukraine war. Modi also noted that the world should pay greater attention to the principles of “democracy, diplomacy, and dialogue” to move toward the path of peace, perhaps indicating his dissatisfaction with Russia’s actions.
Hours after Putin launched the military operation in Ukraine, Modi urged him to de-escalate, reaffirming his support for all sides to return to “the path of diplomatic negotiations and dialogue.” According to a press release by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Modi also asserted that the differences between Russia and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) should be resolved through “honest and sincere dialogue.”
Zelensky told U.S. Congress "we will win." But with Russia pummeling Ukraine's critical infrastructure while consolidating its hold on the nearly one-fifth of Ukraine it occupies, Zelensky is seeking support of a neutral India for his “peace" plan, which makes maximalist demands. pic.twitter.com/UWl8MqXgWQ
— Brahma Chellaney (@Chellaney) December 26, 2022
India has hinted at its displeasure with Russia’s actions and has emphasised on the need to respect the “territorial integrity and sovereignty” of all countries. However, New Delhi continues to refrain from making any direct references to Moscow, which supplies around 60-70% of India's military equipment.
In October, India abstained from a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) vote to condemn Russia’s annexation of four Ukrainian territories in light of the “totality of the evolving situation,” saying it remains opposed to the “escalation of rhetoric and tensions,” despite condemning the hostilities and casualties.
It was India’s ninth abstention from a UN vote against Russia.
In February, it abstained from a UNSC vote calling on Russia to end its military invasion of Ukraine.
Next month, India appeared to take one further step towards denouncing Russia’s actions in Ukraine by joining 12 other countries in abstaining from a UNSC resolution introduced by Russia on the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn eastern European nation. Thereafter, in April, India “unequivocally” condemned the “deeply disturbing” reports of “civilian killings in Bucha” and called for an “independent investigation” into the allegations against Russian forces.
In July, Putin informed Modi about the “key aspects” of the Ukraine war, reassuring the Indian leader that the aim is to incapacitate Kyiv’s military infrastructure and not to target civilians. He highlighted the “dangerous and provocative nature” of the Ukrainian ‘regime’ under President Volodymyr Zelensky as well as the support Kyiv is receiving from “Western patrons” to “escalate the crisis and disrupt efforts to resolve it politically and diplomatically.”
He stressed that Russia has “no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories,” and that the objective of the “special military operation” is merely the “denazification and demilitarisation” of the country.
Zelensky spoke with Narendra Modi today
— Samuel Ramani (@SamRamani2) December 26, 2022
Ukraine is trying to cajole India into embracing its peace initiative but is also critical of India's purchases of discounted Russian energy
Nonetheless, India has managed to maintain a strong relationship with Russia and even increased its trade by buying discounted Russian oil despite the West warning New Delhi of “consequences.”
In fact, it was reported last month that Russia has overtaken Iraq and Saudi Arabia to become India’s top supplier of crude oil, as its traditional oil suppliers had diverted supplies to Europe.
India has faced repeated warnings of “significant consequences,” particularly from the US, over its decision to purchase Russian oil. United States President Joe Biden, too, singled out India as the only Quad ally with a “shaky” response to the Ukraine crisis. In fact, Ukraine, too, has said each barrel India purchases has a “good portion of Ukrainian blood in it.” However, India has stood firm on its ability to take independent decisions as a sovereign nation.
Earlier this month, Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar revealed that New Delhi has presented Moscow with a list of Indian products for which it has requested access to the Russian market. He clarified, however, that this is not a new development and that discussions on increasing Indian exports to Russia have been going on for at least eight years, well before Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February.
Moreover, Russia reportedly requested India to deliver a list of over 500 raw materials and equipment—including parts for cars, aircraft, and trains—to prop up its industrial and manufacturing sector due to the impact of Western sanctions and the exit of multiple foreign manufacturers in the wake of the Ukraine war.
In addition, it is believed that Modi played a crucial role in the G20’s joint declaration condemning Russia’s war in Ukraine “in the strongest terms” last month.