India looks to host Zelenskyy in early 2026 after Putin’s New Delhi visit: Report

India planning Zelenskyy visit in early 2026 after Putin’s trip: Report

India is exploring dates for a possible visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in early 2026, shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded his two-day trip to New Delhi on December 5, The Indian Express has reported, citing senior officials.

The move reflects New Delhi’s continued diplomatic outreach to both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war, in line with its stated position of promoting dialogue and peace.

Balancing ties with Moscow and Kyiv

According to the report, channels of communication between Indian and Ukrainian officials have remained active for weeks, including before Putin arrived in India. Kyiv’s internal political uncertainty, including the recent resignation of a top Zelenskyy aide, Andriy Yermak, over corruption allegations, is among the factors that could determine the timing of the visit.

Only three Ukrainian presidents have travelled to India so far: in 1992, 2002, and 2012.

The proposed visit would mirror India’s diplomatic sequencing last year: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Putin in Moscow in July 2024 before heading to Ukraine the following month.

Modi has kept regular lines open with both leaders since the conflict erupted in February 2022. He has spoken to Zelenskyy by phone at least eight times and met him four times, including during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin on August 30 this year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday strongly backed the latest efforts to end the war in Ukraine and conveyed to Russian President Vladimir Putin that India will stand shoulder-to-shoulder in all peace efforts to find an amicable solution to the conflict.

"I have always said that India is not neutral; India has a side, and that side is peace. We support all peace efforts, and we are standing shoulder-to-shoulder in all peace efforts," he said.

India's stance

Putin’s latest visit drew close attention across Europe, where several governments have urged India to use its influence to promote de-escalation. India has maintained that its position is anchored in peace and diplomacy.

Focus on US-led peace efforts

The visit by Zelenskyy, if finalised, will also depend on U.S.-brokered negotiations and the evolving battlefield situation. After his talks with Modi on December 5, Putin said they spoke “in detail on the situation in Ukraine” as well as on ongoing peace initiatives led by Washington.

Reiterating India’s longstanding stance, Modi said, “India has always advocated for peace regarding Ukraine. We welcome all efforts being made for a peaceful and lasting resolution of this issue. India has always been ready to contribute and will continue to do so.”

Following their last call on August 30, the Prime Minister’s Office noted India’s “steadfast and consistent position for peaceful settlement of the conflict” and its readiness to provide “all possible support”.

One shift noticed in recent interactions: both leaders avoided using words such as “war” or “conflict”, instead referring to Ukraine as a “crisis,” a departure from Modi’s earlier remarks in 2022 that “this is not the era of war” and his 2024 statement that “solutions can’t be found on the battlefield”.