News Desk

The Advocate Post: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukraine, directly after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The visit is important due to Modi’s earlier trip to Russia, an action which garnered many criticism from Kyiv and Western capitals. Zelensky, in particular, expressed deep disappointment over Modi’s embrace of Putin, referred by him as “the world’s most bloody criminal”.

While some might see Modi’s visit to Kyiv as an attempt to appease Zelensky and Western leaders, it is more about balancing India’s diplomatic relations. India’s long-standing non-alignment policy allows it to maintain strong ties with both Russia and the West. This visit, the first by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine, underscores India’s strategic autonomy and its desire to strengthen its relationship with Kyiv without alienating Moscow.

Michael Kugelman of the Wilson Centre suggests that Modi’s trip is aimed at advancing Indian interests by reaffirming friendship with Ukraine and expressing concerns over the ongoing conflict. Although India has avoided directly criticizing Russia, focusing instead on the importance of respecting territorial integrity and advocating for diplomacy, the timing of Modi’s Kyiv visit shows awareness of Western disapproval of his recent engagement with Russia. Despite Western pressure, India continues to maintain a careful stance, reflecting its deep-rooted ties with Russia and reliance on Russian military supplies.