Amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday asserted that no solution can be found on the battlefield, reiterating India's longstanding stance that it "stands for peace".
Modi, in his first comments on the Russia-Ukraine war since his Moscow visit began, also highlighted how it gave him "immense pain" when innocent children were murdered.
"I am happy that we could discuss about the war in Ukraine with an open mind, and we listened to each other's thoughts on the war with great respect," PM Modi told the Russia leader during the bilateral talks.
"Whether it be war, conflicts, or terror attacks, everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives. But when innocent children are murdered, when we see innocent children dying, it is heart-wrenching and that pain is immense. I also had a discussion about this with you," Modi said.
He assured the global community that India "stands for peace" and is ready to cooperate with all stakeholders to end the conflict to restore peace in the region.
Modi's remarks came in the wake of a deadly strike on a children's hospital in Kyiv, which Ukraine attributed to a Russian missile. Russia, however, claimed it was a Ukrainian anti-missile system that caused the tragedy.
Following the talks, Putin thanked PM Modi for his efforts towards resolving the Ukraine conflict.
PM Modi was hosted by Putin at his official residence at Novo-Ogaryovo for a “private engagement” on Monday.
During the meeting, Modi acknowledged the historical and strategic partnership between India and Russia, noting Russia's assistance in the energy sector. He emphasized that stronger ties with Russia would benefit the Indian people, particularly farmers, during global shortages of food, fuel, and fertilizers. Modi also condemned all forms of terrorism, highlighting India's long-standing challenges with terrorism over the past 40 years.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has, however, criticised PM Modi's visit to Russia, saying it was a "huge disappointment" and "a devastating blow to peace efforts."
What is India’s Stand on Russia-Ukraine War?
India has consistently maintained that the Ukraine conflict cannot be resolved through military means and has urged for a resolution through dialogue and diplomacy. Modi's visit to Russia reinforced this message, advocating for respect for the UN Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty. India has adopted a neutral stance on the Ukraine war, abstaining from UN votes condemning Russia and refusing to join Western sanctions. However, it has expressed concerns about the conflict, particularly regarding the safety of Indian nationals recruited to fight in the war. During the talks, India secured an agreement from Russia to facilitate the return of these recruits.
While India's engagement with Russia has drawn criticism from the West, New Delhi has emphasized that its relationship with Moscow is a long-standing strategic partnership, independent of current geopolitical tensions. India has sought to balance its ties with both Russia and the West amidst the Ukraine crisis.
The Indian government's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, marked by condemnation of civilian killings without directly blaming Russia and abstention from UN votes, reflects its historically cautious neutrality. Other countries like South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and Turkey have also abstained from UN votes condemning Russia, yet India has faced more significant pressure and criticism from the West.
At last year's G20 Summit held in New Delhi, unlike the Bali Summit, where the Ukrainian conflict was confined to two paragraphs, the Delhi Declaration expanded it to seven, focusing on economic impacts due to objections from Russia and China. Russia objected to references to “invasion,” while China opposed discussing “geopolitical issues” at an economic forum. Thus, the declaration stressed the economic impact of the war on Ukraine and the global economy.
The Delhi Declaration highlighted the “human suffering and negative added impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, supply chains, macro-financial stability, inflation and growth,” noting that these issues complicated the policy environment for countries, especially developing ones recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. It also stated, “There were different views and assessments of the situation.”
Echoing PM Modi’s statement during the Bali Declaration, the declaration reiterated, “Today’s era must not be of war.” It also stated, “The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible,” a formulation same as in Bali.
A new formulation in the declaration stated, “All states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state,” directed at powerful countries, including China. This paragraph reflected the desires of developing countries for adherence by large, powerful nations.
At the core of the declaration was a call for the cessation of military destruction and attacks on critical infrastructure, emphasizing the need to humanitarian responses and safeguard civilian lives.
Politically, the West aims to frame Russia's attack on Ukraine as an assault on the "free world," which would be weakened if the world's largest democracy remains neutral. Economically, if India continues to trade with Russia, it could undermine the impact of Western sanctions. Strategically, the Ukraine crisis is a major global conflict since the Cold War, testing India's balancing act between its improved ties with the US and its warm relationship with Russia.
Despite the expectation that India might align with the West, given its strategic partnership with the US and its role as a counterweight to China in the Indo-Pacific region, India has maintained its strategic autonomy, opting for a neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict.
