Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the upcoming BRICS Summit, scheduled to take place in Kazan in October.
The invitation comes just days after Putin identified three nations as potential mediators for peace talks over Ukraine -- India, China, and Brazil.
Putin said a preliminary agreement reached between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in the first weeks of the war at talks in Istanbul, which was never implemented, could serve as the basis for talks, according to a Reuters report.
India, which has always called for dialogue and diplomacy as means to resolve the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, will once again be in the spotlight next month given the unique position it holds because of an open line of communication with both the sides.
Can India play a peacemaker in the Russia-Ukraine conflict? A look at India’s stance so far:
‘Not an era of war’
In his first remarks since Russia initiated its military operation in Ukraine, Prime Minister Modi told Putin that this wasn’t the era of war. He also underlined the significance of dialogue, democracy and diplomacy.
Modi’s comments came on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Uzbekistan in September 2022.
“I know that today’s era is not an era of war, and I have spoken to you on the phone about this,” Modi said, adding that democracy, diplomacy and dialogue kept the world together.
What Modi said at US Congress
Reiterating the message that he delivered at SCO Summit, PM Modi in a historic address in the US Congress last year, said that “we all must do what we can to stop the bloodshed and human suffering.”
“As I have said directly and publicly, this is not an era of war. But, it is one of dialogue and diplomacy,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi’s Russia visit
In his first visit to Russia since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and the first in his third term as Prime Minister, Modi made a wholehearted endorsement of India's ties with Russia, describing the old ally as India's "all-weather friend".
Modi's high praise of Russia as an ally and Putin's leadership came amid ongoing efforts by the Western world to isolate the Russian leader over the war in Ukraine.
During his visit in July, Modi told Putin that a solution to the Ukraine conflict is not possible on the battlefield and peace talks do not succeed amidst bombs, guns and bullets. For restoration of peace, India is ready to cooperate in all possible ways, Modi said further.
Modi’s interaction with Putin left Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "disappointed" as a Russian missile struck the largest children's hospital in Ukraine, targeting young cancer patients. The incident coincided with Modi's official trip to Moscow. "It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day," Zelenskyy wrote on social media platform X.
In his remarks, the Prime Minister made a veiled reference to the bombing of the children's hospital in Ukraine. "Everyone believing in humanity is pained if there is loss of lives. In that too, if innocent children are murdered; if innocent children die, it is heart-wrenching and very painful," Modi said.
‘India not neutral’
Balancing India’s position on the Russia-Ukraine war was the top agenda for PM Modi as he embarked on a landmark trip to Ukraine in August, over a month after he visited Moscow.
Prime Minister Modi, during his visit to Kyiv, said that India had not been neutral during the Russia-Ukraine war and was always on the side of peace. “India was never neutral, we have always been on the side of peace,” said Modi. This was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister since Ukraine became independent in 1991.
During Modi’s visit, Zelenskyy expressed confidence that India had a role to bring peace to the conflict ridden region, reported ANI.
Doval meets Putin
Two-and-a-half weeks after Modi’s visit to Kyiv, national security advisor Ajit Doval met Putin amid renewed efforts to find a solution to the Ukraine conflict. In the talks, Putin hoped that Modi would travel to Russia's Kazan next month to attend the annual BRICS summit.
On September 11, Doval engaged in comprehensive discussions with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu, focusing on key topics of shared concern between their nations. It is understood that Modi's talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on August 23 figured in the talks between the two NSAs.
Russia and Ukraine have been engaged in a conflict for over two-and-a-half years now and according to the UN, 11,700 civilians have been killed so far. World leaders expect that India can play a role in resolving the conflict, especially post the remarks by Putin naming India among the three crucial countries.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, after a meeting with Zelenskyy, said India and China can play a role in finding a solution to the dragging conflict. Hungarian MP Balazs Orban stated India is a rising power and is playing a crucial role in resolving the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
(With agencies inputs)
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