Bloomberg: India agrees to facilitate communication between Zelenskyy, Putin

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Kyiv on August 23, marking a significant diplomatic engagement amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The visit comes just weeks after Modi's trip to Russia, underlining India’s complex balancing act in international relations, Caliber.Az reports, citing Bloomberg.

Sources familiar with the matter have revealed that while Modi has declined to take on a formal role as a mediator in the conflict, India has agreed to serve as a conduit for communication between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This development highlights India's nuanced approach to the conflict, driven partly by its economic and defence ties with Russia, particularly in securing affordable oil and military equipment.

Modi's visit to Kyiv is expected to be brief, lasting only a few hours, due to heightened security concerns. Despite the short duration, the visit is seen as crucial by Ukrainian officials, who are eager to discuss India’s potential role in restoring peace in the region. Zelenskyy views the meeting as an opportunity to engage India—a key Global South player whose support is vital in the broader international effort to resolve the conflict.

At the June Peace Summit in Switzerland, India was among the countries that refrained from signing the final statement, reflecting its cautious stance on the issue. As a result, the upcoming meeting between Modi and Zelenskyy is unlikely to yield significant announcements. However, sources indicate that discussions on several agreements, particularly in the fields of agriculture and defence, are ongoing.

Prior to his visit to Ukraine, Modi will also make a historic visit to Poland, his first to the country in four decades. This visit is expected to further strengthen India's ties with European nations amid the ongoing conflict.

In addition to diplomatic discussions, there are reports of potential economic collaborations between Ukraine and India. The Zoria-Mashproekt Ukrainian state company is in talks with Indian private firms to explore joint production of gas turbines for warships. Discussions are also underway regarding the production of aircraft and engines in India, which could signify deeper defence cooperation between the two nations.