India Steps Up Ukraine Mediation

India's Quiet Mediation on Ukraine

India has quietly stepped up mediation efforts in the Ukraine war.

“New Delhi was talking with Kyiv and Moscow at the highest level”

Recent Diplomatic Moves

On Tuesday, Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said New Delhi was talking with Kyiv and Moscow at the highest level.

Recent Diplomatic Moves

His comments came a day after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.

Mediation Focus Areas

The Indian interventions reportedly focus on easing the economic consequences of the war, pushing for safer commercial shipping in the Black Sea and addressing concerns about energy and grain exports.

India as Logical Mediator

India is a logical Russia-Ukraine mediator given its deep, long-standing partnership with Moscow and friendly relations with Kyiv.

India's Strategic Interests

India has strong interest in the war ending to prevent Russia from exporting more oil and weapons to India and reduce Moscow’s dependence on Beijing.

India's Diplomatic Space

Modi has repeatedly called for an end to the war, a message he delivered while sitting next to Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2022.

India's Past Stance

The country rejects the role of intermediaries in its own conflicts, including its dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir.

Recent Shifts

Modi has said he is prepared to help facilitate an end to the conflict with pledges to Zelensky in Kyiv and during a visit to Warsaw, Poland, in 2024.

Ukraine's Request

Zelensky has sought Indian assistance in ending the war according to Ukrainian media.

Russia's Response

Russian state media reported that Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reacted to New Delhi’s proposed truce by saying We are grateful to our Indian friends for such readiness and the ideas that are being offered.

“We are grateful to our Indian friends for such readiness and the ideas that are being offered”

Putin's Comment

Putin has said Modi has very good ideas for ending the war.

Challenges Ahead

India will struggle to succeed with fighting in Ukraine intensifying and it likely won’t want to upstage the United States which clearly wants to be the prime mediator.

Potential Opportunity

With Trump perhaps wanting to be remembered as a peacemaker, the United States will likely ramp up its efforts and New Delhi could coordinate with Washington pursuing specific objectives tied to shipping and export concerns.

Expected Outcome

Such collaborations could help advance peace efforts and deliver a boost to U.S.-India ties in the process.