India's Prime Minster Narendra Modi and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Kyiv

Since the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, India has been criticised by Western countries for not condemning Russia. India, a key diplomatic ally of Russia, has notably defied the sanctions imposed by several countries against Russia for its war in Ukraine. Moreover, Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slammed Prime Minister Modi’s trip to Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin in July, and expressed his dismay, stating it was 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.”

While in Russia, India’s Prime Minister stated that the country’s ties with Russia were “unbreakable”, without blaming Moscow for the war in Ukraine, despite pressure from the US and other Western countries to condemn Russia.

When Narendra Modi becomes the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Ukraine, the international community is keenly observing the development, with many seeing a potential peacemaker role as he arrives in Kyiv on August, 23.

Taking to X, Ukrainian president said that he and the Indian Prime Minister honoured the “memory of the children whose lives were taken by Russian aggression,” adding that children in every country deserve to live in safety. The ‘Memory of Children’ honours the children whose lives were taken by the full-scale Russian invasion, a veiled joint protest against Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine.

Today in Kyiv, Prime Minister @NarendraModi and I honored the memory of the children whose lives were taken by Russian aggression.

Children in every country deserve to live in safety. We must make this possible. pic.twitter.com/gKdjqcL5iz

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 23, 2024

Read Also: Huge Disappointment: Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Criticises PM Modi Meeting Putin

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ukraine six weeks after his Russian tour is viewed as a show of India’s neutrality in the ongoing war. Corroborating the perception is the Prime Minister’s repeated call for diplomacy to end the war and return to peace and stability in the region.

Indicating his intent to bring peace, the Prime Minister, before his departure to Kyiv, called for a peaceful resolution of the war. As he met Zelenskyy on Friday, analysts are eager to know how Russia’s friend will deal with Kyiv through the diplomatic complexities. It is also important to note that Zelensky’s advisor had previously acknowledged India’s influence over Moscow to bring about positive change in the region.

Read Also: What Is ‘The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier’ That PM Modi Paid Tribute To In Russia

The recent incursion of Ukraine into Russia’s Kursk region, where it claims to have grabbed 1,250 sq km of territory, has escalated the situation further, as the development appeared to be a blow to Vladimir Putin. With the latest development, Russia has been further infuriated, with Putin’s stern warning that it would respond heavily and the foreign minister’s indication of an unlikely peace talk anytime soon.

At this critical juncture, many believe that Prime Minister Modi will be the only person who can bring Putin and Zelensky to a negotiation table, provided India’s strong ties with Russia, Ukraine, and the US. And as Russia’s top oil buyer, India reportedly has a leverage to pressure the warring countries for a deal.

However, as Ukraine insists on the withdrawal of regions Russia captured since the invasion as a condition for any mutual resolution, Russia is adamant that it would not retreat those regions. Therefore, it is unlikely that Indian Prime Minister’s visit can have a significant impact in the war between the two countrie, with several arguing that India’s role of mediation is merely exaggerated.

To sum up, it is calculated that the Indian leader’s visit would indeed be a show of impartiality in the war, which would serve against distancing itself from the Western powers and striking a balance. Ukraine is also happy that it could help India show balance in its position in the war.

Paying homages at the Martyrologist Exposition in Kyiv, Prime Minister Modi today said that conflict is particularly devastating for young children. “My heart goes out to the families of children who lost their lives, and I pray that they find the strength to endure their grief,” he wrote in a post on X.

President @ZelenskyyUa and I paid homage at the Martyrologist Exposition in Kyiv.

Conflict is particularly devastating for young children. My heart goes out to the families of children who lost their lives, and I pray that they find the strength to endure their grief. pic.twitter.com/VQH1tun5ok

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 23, 2024