Prime Minister Narendra Modi, before his milestone visit to Kyiv, has stated serious concern over the aggression between Russia and Ukraine. He restated India’s intention to assist peace initiatives through “diplomatic dialogue.” Modi made the remarks while articulating his views after meeting the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, in Warsaw. The meeting resulted in India and Poland elevating their relationship to a strategic partnership and concluding a social security pact designed to benefit skilled workers.
India-Poland Relations Reach New Heights
Modi’s visit to Poland, though a working one, was a historic event as it paved the path for enhancing relations between the two countries. Their move from being standard partners to strategic ones means the establishment of new promising prospects for developing cooperation in areas such as defense, trade relations, renewable energy, and technologies. The new social security agreement will also improve the mobility of skilled workers from the two countries.
Both leaders stressed the role of international law, respect for sovereignty, and the settlement of disputes without the use of force, given the situation in Ukraine. While addressing the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, Modi affirmed India’s stand that no issue can be resolved through warfare and stressed the need for diplomacy for the return of orderliness.
Modi’s Visit to Kyiv Amid Russia-Ukraine Conflict
The Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, also expressed optimism about India’s role in resolving the crisis in Ukraine, highlighting Indian involvement as “essential and highly constructive.” especially with Modi visiting Kyiv, which could be historic as the global community waits in anticipation for the involvement of India in solving global conflicts.
Modi’s trip to Kyiv follows his visit to Moscow, where he had a direct meeting with the Russian President Vladimir Putin. This visit elicited criticism from the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been displeased with India’s current affiliation with Russia. But Modi’s visit to Ukraine also demonstrates India’s diplomatic neutrality with both countries.
Speaking in Warsaw, Modi stated that the loss of innocent lives in any fight is a significant problem that humanity faces and that India supports non-violence and diplomacy. The scheduled meeting with Zelenskyy in Kyiv will likely deepen India’s commitment to seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
Historical Context of India-Ukraine Relations
India and Ukraine have been strategic partners and officially recognized each other as such since Ukraine’s independence in 1991. The two countries have established good cooperation in many areas such as trade, education, and defense over the past years. Ukraine has been promising for Indians, particularly for education, especially for medical students, and India is one of Ukraine’s largest trading partners in Asia.
However, the Russian aggression against Ukraine has put the Indian government in a rather unenviable position. India still extensively cooperates with Russia in defense while recognizing Ukraine’s borders and territorial integrity. Thus, Modi’s visit to Kyiv can be considered an example of India’s fundamental stance to its commitment to the construction of peace despite still preserving its friendly relations with both countries.
A Balanced Approach in Global Diplomacy
Recent international trips, including Modi’s visit to Poland and Ukraine, reveal the changing nature of the Indian position in the world system. By establishing relations with Poland and addressing the country independently during a conflict, New Delhi declares itself a global mediator. Erasing any perceived weakness in the Indian-Iranian relations with Poland, Modi’s diplomatic gestures in Kyiv demonstrate that India does not show bias in its foreign policies.
India has maintained a policy of advocating for diplomacy and dialogue. This approach aligns with its overall foreign policy strategy and also shows its rising clout in the international system. Modi’s trip to Kyiv after meetings in Russia and Poland makes it clear that Indian pragmatism and tactics of diplomacy are unlikely to be ignored, especially when the emphasis is laid on forming and developing successful cooperation with other countries, as well as when stability in a region is a priority for India.
News Source: The Indian Express
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