Ukraine FM urges India to rethink on ties with Russia

Ukraine is eager for India’s involvement in a peace summit to be organized by Switzerland this summer, as it believes India’s support will help persuade other nations, particularly those in the Global South, about the initiative, stated Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday.

Kuleba, presently on a two-day visit to New Delhi at the invitation of his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar, highlighted India’s potential to be the first non-Western power to endorse President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace plan aimed at resolving the conflict triggered by Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

“India can take the lead to become the first major non-Western power to openly support the summit on President Zelenskyy’s peace formula. The conversation with Russia can begin one day, and India can be well placed in this process,” Kuleba mentioned during an interaction with Hindustan Times.

He emphasized India’s significance in global affairs, particularly in the Global South, stating, “India matters and we would like to have it on board. It will add legitimacy to the international efforts and bring other countries on board.”

The peace summit, yet to have its dates announced by Switzerland, is expected to be a focal point of Kuleba’s discussions with Indian officials on Thursday. Apart from a meeting with Jaishankar to co-chair the India-Ukraine inter-governmental commission, Kuleba is scheduled to meet deputy national security adviser Vikram Misri.

While India has refrained from publicly criticizing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it has consistently advocated for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s stance during phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy on March 20, stressing the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Acknowledging India’s longstanding relations with Russia, Kuleba suggested that New Delhi could support certain aspects of Zelenskyy’s peace formula, such as the return of children and prisoners of war, and energy security.

Zelenskyy’s peace formula, proposed initially at the G20 Summit in Bali in 2022, encompasses various points including restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, withdrawal of Russian troops, release of prisoners, and ensuring nuclear safety, particularly in the context of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

India has been participating in discussions on Zelenskyy’s peace formula since last year, with its representatives attending several meetings. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval notably participated in a meeting hosted by Saudi Arabia last August.