Roving Periscope: A month after visiting Russia, PM Modi to seek peace in Ukraine

Virendra Pandit

New Delhi: Precisely because he has been breaking new grounds nationally and globally—that unites legions of his jealous and failed enemies within and without—Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attempting to do something many of his admirers-turned-secret foes couldn’t: bringing peace to war-torn Ukraine jackbooted by India’s old friend, Russia, since February 2022.

With his frontline diplomacy, PM Modi had, after the outbreak of war, persuaded the two countries to halt their conflict for several days to enable New Delhi to evacuate thousands of students and citizens from Ukraine. Many from neighboring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh also joined their Indian counterparts leaving Ukraine.

Since then, many Heads of State and Governments—including US President Joe Biden—have visited Ukraine, some even secretly, to boost its “morale.” But none of them could boast of PM Modi’s ‘diplomatic credentials.’

Somewhat like German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, who could ‘juggle’ five rivals at once in the 1870s—Russia, France, Britain, Austria, and Italy—the Indian PM is also trying to balance the US-led West, Russia, Ukraine, and China—at a time America is heading for the presidential election in November with an uncertain outcome, the UK is riven with communal riots, and Europe, in general, is in doldrums, a pale copy of its aggressive past.

While the West has so far sanctioned Russia and funded Ukraine to prolong the ongoing conflict to bleed Moscow white, PM Modi told President Vladimir Putin, twice, that ‘this is not the era of war,’ and that conflicts can be resolved peacefully through diplomacy and dialogue. He also met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a couple of times advocating peace.

Now, as he left for his crucial visit to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, PM Modi said he was looking forward to sharing perspectives with President Zelenskyy on a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.

His comments came shortly before he embarked on a two-nation trip to Poland and Ukraine. In the first leg of the visit, PM Modi is visiting the Polish capital city of Warsaw on August 21 and 22.

He will be in Kyiv for around seven hours on August 23 in the first visit by an Indian PM to Ukraine since the country became independent of the then-Soviet Union in 1991.

In a departure statement, PM Modi, referring to the Ukraine conflict, said that as a “friend and partner,” India hopes for an early return of peace and stability in the region.

“From Poland, I will be visiting Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This is the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine,” he said.

“I look forward to the opportunity to build upon earlier conversations with President Zelenskyy on strengthening bilateral cooperation and share perspectives on peaceful resolution of the ongoing Ukraine conflict,” he said.

“As a friend and partner, we hope for an early return of peace and stability in the region,” he added.

PM Modi said he was confident that his visit to Warsaw and Kyiv “will serve as a natural continuation of extensive contacts with the two countries and help create the foundation for stronger and more vibrant relations in the years ahead.”

From Poland, he will travel to Kyiv in a ‘Rail Force One’ train that will take around 10 hours. The return trip will also be of the same duration.

Several world leaders including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Kyiv by train after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

PM Modi’s visit to Kyiv comes nearly six weeks after his high-profile trip to Moscow which triggered criticism from the US and some of its Western allies.

India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has been calling for resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.

In his summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last month, PM Modi said that a solution to the Ukraine conflict is not possible on the battlefield and peace talks do not succeed amidst bombs and bullets.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday said PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine would be a “landmark and historic” one.

“Lasting peace can only be achieved through options that are acceptable to both parties. And it can only be a negotiated settlement,” said Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) in the MEA.

“On our part, India continues to engage with all stakeholders,” he said.

On his visit to Poland, Modi said he was looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda.

“My visit to Poland comes as we mark 70 years of our diplomatic relations. Poland is a key economic partner in Central Europe,” he said.

“Our mutual commitment to democracy and pluralism further reinforces our relationship. I look forward to meeting my friend Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to further advance our partnership,” he said.

“I will also engage with the members of the vibrant Indian community in Poland,” PM Modi said.