The News Analytics Journal Europe Correspondent, Rovena Cerka closely followed PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Ukraine last month. She analyses in detail about PM Modi’s diplomatic and strategic targets and their border implication for India’s global role. As PM Modi’s engagement with both Russia and Ukraine emphasises India’s intention to play a decisive role in shaping global stability and managing a many-sided geopolitical challenge.
By ROVENA CERKA, SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, EUROPE
a 5 mins read.
A sophisticated and nuanced approach to international relations and diplomacy was witnessed in August of 2024 in Europe with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ukraine. These visits to Ukraine and Russia reflect India’s approach to international relations, the fifth major economy, and the fourth most powerful country militarily emphasised support for sovereignty, strategic partnerships, and humanitarian relief.
Thrasyvoulos Eftychidis, a senior analyst and an expert who spent most of his life between Russia and Ukraine believes that India can maintain good relations with both countries that are on an ongoing conflict since February 2022. “The practice so far has amply proved that India, despite the difficult international environment and individual pressures, can and does achieve this and Modi’s visits to Russia and Ukraine come to confirm this.
Apart from commitments to peaceful resolution of the conflict, India is slowly but surely building new strategic partnerships not only with Russia and Ukraine, but also with other countries in the region. The visit to Kyiv was preceded by Modi’s visit to Poland and the meeting with Polish Prime Minister Tusk.
India’s responsibly neutral position has allowed its economic and trade relations to function smoothly. This is expected to continue. Beyond that, the substantial contribution to the peaceful resolution of the conflict creates multiplier benefits for the country’s international position in almost all areas of interest. Incentives therefore remain strong and we look forward with confidence that the moves ahead will be cautiously safe.”
UPHOLDING UKRAINE’S SOVEREIGNTY
The main focus of the talk during the meeting of the two important leaders was Ukrainian soverignty as Indian Prime Minister reconfirmed India’s respecting national borders and international law as a nation that supports the global norms. PM Modi reinforced India’s dedication to support global stability as a stance to prioritise respect for international norms and peaceful conflict resolution. He highlighted the value of territorial stability as a consistant position of India’s forgein policy.
The topics of discussions between Prime Minister Modi and President Vladimir Zelenskyy were humanitarian issues. The Russia-Ukraine war has posed grave humanitarian issues, including but not limited to, people being displaced, lack of basic supplies, and general despair. When Indian PM offered to send in doctors, medical supplies and other associated help, this is just an example of how India is devoted to helping those in distress.
The humanitarian agenda that has infused much of Ukraine gives leverage to India in other international dealings. In shedding light on such issues, India has also done a lot to augment its image as a country which stands to extend help for others.
Speaking to TNJ, Thrasyvoulos Eftychidis said- “I believe that the Indian initiative can, under certain conditions, be the catalyst for possible future processes. Of course, this will depend to a large extent on the trust factor which seems to have begun to build slowly but steadily.
India’s role as main mediator, for the reasons I explained above, finally enables both sides to come into direct contact and negotiations. It’s not something that will happen immediately. However, the entry of powerful India into the conflict resolution process creates prospects and gives rise to hopes.”
By fostering strategic partnerships and supporting peaceful resolutions, India’s neutral stance has strengthened its international position, allowing economic and trade relations to thrive while ensuring cautious, confident diplomacy in the region.
DEEPENING RELATIONS
While dealing with the conflict, Modi and Zelenskyy also explored the possibilities of enhancing bilateral ties. Among the avenues discussed were areas which had potential for collaboration in technology, education and trade, by which economy of both countries could gain tremendously. For India, these collaborations can provide access to new markets. New developments are on the rise in high technology industries and education sectors. In turn, Ukraine gets the opportunity to take advantage of growing Indian expertise and resources.
The proposals on the reinforcement of ties indicate that India is keen on pursuing its efforts to tighten its economic and technological hold over Ukraine while rendering assistance to its endeavors. This becomes particularly beneficial in times where there are realignments of economic power and alliances.
By seeking possibilities in the technology and education sectors, India seeks to establish forward long-term relations, which are not only predicated upon immediate opportunities in geology and trade. Such collaborations help greatly in economic development and strengthening relations between the countries involved.
PM Modi’s visit highlighted the developments concerning the need for enhanced diplomatic relations between India and Ukraine.
AMICABLE SETTLEMENT
Advocations on peaceful conflict resolution was one of the issues critical in the discussions between the two leaders. Indian PM reiterated the importance of negotiation, saying it is the way to settle disputes and stop fighting. This campaign is in consonance with the general trend of Indian foreign policy, which, rather than aspires to war, seeks to resolve the conflict through diplomacy. This captures the spirit of non-violent arbitration that India professes and her support of the peace initiatives in the world.
A well known Greek journalist Aleksis Kouvelis, who covered the war from Ukraine’s Marioupol and still has an eye on the developments believes that Prime Ministers Modi’s visit will be a “game changer”.
He said- “I was there in Mariupol at the beginning of the war, trapped and encircled from Russians. Since then- after our rescue- I follow the developments from a safe distance, but with a particular interest and really, you don’t have to be there to understand that the Ukrainians face Modi as a special case leader: He commands a superpower- member of G20- and as mediator is treated positively also by the Russians, as India is not embedded in the ‘Western system’.
At the same moment Modi looks like the ideal peacemaker for the Ukrainians, as India holds distances from the divergent axis in which they participate – each one for their own reasons- Russia with Iran China and Turkey. Will PM Modi be able to solve the problem? Will he be able to play a leading role on the world stage? His diplomatic intervention in this war, could establish India’s leader as a game changer. For now, however, he is the only one – perhaps together with the invisible Turk President Erdoğan- who talks so comfortably with Putin as much as with Zelensky. Even his embrace with Ukrainian President is warmer. Diplomacy is not always what it seems and India is no longer the ‘poor relative’ as we are used to call in Greece, those who monitor without the possibility of intervention. And this is a first victory for India, which cynically one could say ‘sees the crisis as an opportunity’. For gains, whether political or even commercial”.
There are also positive elements, such as, dialogue and negotiation, which indicates the Indian approach towards a conflict. It does not advocate wars or use of arms including nuclear weapons. A similar line of action can be observed in Modi’s foreign policy, which seeks to promote peaceful resolution of the conflict and constructive participation in world politics.
INDIA’S ROLE IN GLOBAL RELATIONS
India’s broader role within international diplomacy and acts of diplomatic conflict resolution were also included in the visit. Modi is correct in attempting to win the goodwill of both the Ukrainian and Russian leadership; it is in line with the strategic policy making efforts of India. Such deliberations also sought to consider what India was motivationally and reasonably looking to leverage in pursuance of its international objectives which were on an existing conflict resolution.
The trend of India’s foreign policy indicates that India is no longer only a supporter of the international order; it is aspiring to create and influence it. By doing so, India also commits itself to the international order by taking up responsibilities in handling peace and addressing global problems. The initiatives that India undertook earlier reveal the extent to which India is driven in order to become an active participant in managing the world order.
One defining characteristic of India’s engagement in international relations is its ability to curry favor with major powers while actively defending global norms and stability. By playing an active role towards both Ukraine and Russia, India enhances its reputation and her strategic interests in many complex contemporary world situations.
Both the leaders during their engagement also expressed concern over regional and global security issues resulting from the conflicts. They examined the international ramifications of developments in Ukraine for regional security dynamics and the international system. It included looking at security cooperation within a changing world.
“Should we expect any substantive changes as a result of this diplomatic engagement? The answer is yes. India’s strong commitment to supporting an early, lasting peaceful settlement of the conflict creates the conditions for meaningful change in both the short and long term.
The upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, where the leaders of India, Russia and China will probably meet, may be key to the processes that will follow. The most substantial change that may occur, not immediately, is the participation of both sides in a negotiation to end the war with the dominant presence of India.” Senior analyst Thrasyvoulos Eftychidis said toTNJ.
India’s foreign policy now actively shapes the international order, engaging major powers and global challenges. Its balanced approach in the Ukraine-Russia conflict strengthens its strategic interests and global standing.
ENGAGEMENT WITH PRESIDENT PUTIN
At the same time as he was in Ukraine, Modi held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This meeting was vital to show India does a balancing act in International Relations. Modi − who publicly supports Ukrainian sovereignty and emphasises India− continues to use the correct channels of communication with Putin which reflects a strategic partnership between his country and Russia.
The talks with President Putin have focussed on all key aspects of the India-Russia cooperation, ranging from defense to energy and regional stability. Regarding the regional as well as global issues, Modi emphasized on maintaining a balanced and forward-looking partnership with Russia. His simultaneous engagement with both demonstrates a bit of diplomatic wizardry in keeping ties close to these two global powers.
CHINA FACTOR
The context of Modi’s engagements with Ukraine and Russia brings in another nuance to India’s diplomacy vis-a-vis China. A key global power with both strategic stakes in Eastern Europe and an independent stake from Russia, China has been watching developments very closely. When dealing with both Ukraine and Russia, India should keep in mind that China now has a massive presence on the board of global geopolitics.
India comes under similar pressure: both India and China look at each other as they figure out how to balance relationships with new poles in the international system. A tangled web of global power dynamics and China’s growing influence is the backdrop against which India strives to maintain diplomatic balance. This also demonstrate how India has approached Ukraine and Russia while keeping in mind the larger picture of China.
(Rovena Cerka is a distinguished journalist from Albania, renowned for her extensive tenure as a political reporter over numerous years. She covers major developments in Europe for The News Analytics Journal. The views expressed by the author and any guest experts do not necessarily reflect the views of The News Analytics Journal.)
