Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/world/indias-modi-speaks-ukrainian-president-zelenskiy-govt-statement-2022-03-07/
Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, held separate talks with Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy to urge negotiations between the two countries in hopes to deescalate the ongoing situation and Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In these talks, Prime Minister Modi emphasized concern over the humanitarian crisis as urban fighting has begun and there is an impending refugee crisis. Narendra Modi also expressed deep concern and highlighted the need for the evacuation of Indian nationals stuck in Eastern Ukraine, the most chaotic front of the invasion. Currently, 700 Indian nationals are stuck in Sumy, a city located in north-eastern Ukraine which is currently being shelled by the Russian military.
Although Prime Minister Modi’s intentions are good this conflict is extremely difficult to resolve diplomatically as nuclear powers, extreme economic ramifications, political destabilization, energy concerns, and humanitarian crimes are all at play. However, the conflict has to be solved diplomatically. Likely, concessions will have to be made where Ukraine will have to potentially give up parts of Eastern Ukraine, recognize Crimea, promise to not join NATO, etc. to ensure a Russian withdrawal.
Also, India could be a good middle man to promote some cooperation and diplomacy between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. In the emergency UN General Assembly meeting, India and China were the two major powers to abstain from the deploring of Russia’s invasion. Also, India has close economic ties with both Russia and the West, therefore they can serve as a large power that can be seen as a neutral party.
This conflict demonstrates the importance international institutions and cooperation have on the international system. First, the Russian invasion of Ukraine can be seen as a reaction to NATO’s expansion into Eastern Europe and along Russia’s borders. Secondly, the response to the Russian invasion has been handled mostly through international institutions with the United Nations holding emergency meetings to try to resolve the conflict diplomatically. Also, India’s vote within the UN General Assembly to abstain in order to keep economic ties with Russia demonstrates how international powers treat the severity of votes within the United Nations even if they are only recommendations that can not be enforced.