Key Points
- Zelensky’s India visit likely: Dates being finalized, announcement expected soon.
- Ukraine appeals for India’s role in ending Russia conflict, citing New Delhi’s ties with Moscow.
- Ambassador Polishchuk praises PM Modi’s stance on peace and diplomacy.
- Trade ties highlighted: $3.4 billion trade before Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
- Back-to-back Russia, Ukraine outreach to India: Putin and Zelensky eyeing India visits amid geopolitical tensions.
New Delhi: Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the spotlight is once again on India’s position as a global mediator. Days after reports of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s possible visit to India, the Ukrainian side has also indicated that President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to New Delhi soon. Officials are currently finalizing dates and the agenda of high-level talks.
The move comes at a time when the United States recently acted against India over tariff-related issues, with former President Donald Trump blaming India’s Russian oil imports as a reason complicating the conflict. Against this backdrop, both Moscow and Kyiv seem keen on strengthening their diplomatic outreach to India.
What Did the Ukrainian Ambassador Say?
Speaking to news agency ANI on Ukraine’s National Flag Day (August 23), Ukraine’s Ambassador to India, Alexander Polishchuk, made a strong appeal for New Delhi to play a “bigger role” in ending the war with Russia.
“Given India’s long-standing strategic partnership and ties with Russia, we see New Delhi as an important voice for peace,” the Ambassador stated.
Polishchuk welcomed the increase in dialogue between India and Ukraine since 2023 and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s repeated emphasis on peace, diplomacy and political dialogue.
He further expressed hope that India’s active role would reflect during the upcoming UN General Assembly (UNGA) session in September 2025.
Zelensky’s Possible India Visit: Key Agenda
When asked about President Zelensky’s long-anticipated visit to India, Ambassador Polishchuk confirmed that talks are underway:
- Both governments are finalizing dates and topics of discussion.
- Likely agenda includes peace initiatives, humanitarian cooperation, food security, and trade recovery.
- Announcement expected before UNGA session in New York.
India-Ukraine Relations: A Background
In an opinion piece published in The Week, Ambassador Polishchuk also traced the long history of India-Ukraine relations:
- Three Ukrainian Presidents have officially visited India to date.
- Two Indian Presidents including A.P.J. Abdul Kalam have visited Ukraine in the past.
- By 2021, bilateral trade had reached $3.4 billion, powered by pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and defense supplies.
- First high-level meeting between Zelensky and PM Modi took place at the Glasgow Climate Summit (Nov 2021), just months before the Russian invasion.
- Since May 2023, interactions between the two leaders have become more frequent, including video calls and multilateral sidelines.
India’s Neutrality Question
India has so far refused to align directly with either Russia or Ukraine. While New Delhi continues to import oil and defense equipment from Moscow, PM Modi has consistently urged for dialogue, ceasefire, and peaceful resolution.
At the G7 Summit earlier this year, Modi had reiterated: “This is not an era of war.” A statement widely celebrated in the West but still seen as a careful balancing act between Russia and Ukraine.
The Road Ahead
With Putin and Zelensky expected to visit India within months of each other, New Delhi could emerge as a critical diplomatic ground in shaping the next phase of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
How India balances defense dependence on Russia while positioning itself as a global peace mediator especially at the UNGA 2025 session will be closely watched.
