New Delhi: On Monday, the government confirmed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Ukraine, underscoring New Delhi’s delicate balancing act amid the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kyiv.
PM Modi is scheduled to visit Poland on August 21 and then travel to Ukraine on August 23, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This visit marks the first time an Indian Prime Minister will travel to Ukraine since the two countries established diplomatic relations.
During a media briefing, Tanmaya Lal, Secretary West at MEA, emphasized India’s independent relations with both Russia and Ukraine and its consistent advocacy for diplomacy to resolve the conflict. “It’s not a zero-sum game,” Lal stated.
“Lasting peace can only be achieved through options that are acceptable to both parties and it can only be a negotiated settlement. On our part, India continues to engage with all stakeholders,” he added.
Lal also noted that PM Modi has engaged with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing India’s willingness to contribute towards finding a peaceful resolution. “India is willing to provide all possible support and contribution required to help find peaceful solutions to this complex issue. At this stage, it is not for us to anticipate or prejudge what the outcome of these discussions will be between the leaders of India and Ukraine,” Lal said.
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India’s Diplomatic Balancing Act
Despite its historical ties with Russia, India has maintained a neutral stance regarding the Ukraine war. PM Modi visited Moscow last month following his re-election, where he met with President Putin for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Earlier this year, Modi also met with President Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy.
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The Oil Trade
During his Moscow visit, PM Modi highlighted the significance of India’s relationship with Russia, particularly in the context of oil imports. “When the world was facing the challenge of fuels, your support helped us fulfill the petrol and diesel requirements of people in India. Not just this, the world should accept that India-Russia agreement regarding fuel played a big role in bringing stability to the international market,” Modi remarked.
The imposition of sanctions on Russia by European nations following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 aimed to reduce Russia’s oil revenue and limit its military capabilities. Despite these sanctions, India continued to purchase Russian oil, benefiting from substantial discounts. As reported by Reuters, India’s oil imports from Russia peaked at about 2.1 million barrels per day in May 2024, driven by wider discounts due to decreased demand from China. Additionally, India’s oil trade with Russia contributed to stabilizing global oil markets, as New Delhi increased its exports of diesel and jet fuel to Europe.
