Modi’s commitment to brokering peace ‘tested by Kiev’s precondition’

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Ukraine, on August 23, 2024. Photo: VCG

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine, as well as New Delhi's ties with Moscow, were put to the test after Kiev hinted that signing the communique of the Switzerland Ukraine peace conference is a precondition for hosting a second summit on peace.

Modi wrapped up a high-stakes visit to Ukraine Friday. This visit witnessed Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky referencing the UN Charter and the need to respect territorial integrity and Modi's mourning of children lost in the conflict. 

According to BBC, the Ukrainian leader welcomed Modi in an "awkward" manner and smiles were few and far between.

Zelensky, while expressing support for India to host the second summit on peace as Kiev hopes to find a host among the countries in the Global South, has set a precondition. 

"But I want to be frank, and this applies not only to India, but to any state that would be positive about hosting a second summit. We will not be able to hold a peace summit in a country that has not yet joined the peace summit communique," Zelensky emphasized during a Sunday meeting with Indian journalists, according to the Kyiv Independent.  

India did not sign the joint communique at the Switzerland summit on peace in Ukraine, as it insisted on the participation of all parties, including Russia. 

Modi's visit to Ukraine was intended to be a "damage control" trip to assuage criticism from Ukraine and the US over his previous trip to Russia, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times.

However, the visit has turned into a challenge to India's commitment to brokering peace and its ties with Russia, Qian said.

Qian predicted that it will be impossible for New Delhi to walk back and sign the joint communique of the Switzerland peace summit, as such a move would wreck the relations between Russia and India.

Qian noted that Modi's trip was held at an awkward time when Russia slammed the doors shut on talks after Ukraine's offensive in Russia's Kursk region. 

"India should be careful when trying to maintain a balanced relationship among all countries. Without delicate diplomacy and the strength of proposing a satisfactory peace plan, it may eventually become caught in a situation where pleasing both sides is a mission impossible," Qian told the Global Times.