Ukraine bets on India to help get peace deal with Putin

According to the official, Modi was clear in summertime discussions with Kyiv that — while Ukraine would inevitably need to compromise on some things to end Moscow’s onslaught — any proposals to end the war should not include giving up territory to Russia.

Modi, in Kyiv’s eyes, has come a long way in a short time.

When he visited Moscow in July and warmly embraced Russian President Vladimir Putin, the response from Kyiv was scathing. Zelenskyy called the hug — on the same day a Russian missile strike killed dozens of Ukrainians — “a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts.”

But since then, Ukraine has come to increasingly view India — the world’s most populous nation, which has long promoted non-alignment in its foreign relations — as its ideal intermediary in dealings with the Kremlin.

While New Delhi has consistently refrained from condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it has spoken in support of respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ending the war. Six weeks after his Moscow trip raised Ukrainian hackles, Modi traveled to Kyiv to meet with Zelenskyy. He vowed to be “a friend” to Kyiv and help bring about a peace deal.

India may be the only global power player that can play the role — or at least the only one able to credibly portray itself as a neutral party to both Moscow and Kyiv.