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Washington. Ahead of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Moscow this week, several diplomats and foreign policy experts are keeping a close eye on India’s possible role in pressing for peace between Russia and Ukraine. India has already been contemplating on the Russo-Ukraine war, what role it can play in efforts to establish peace at the right time. The main impasse in this matter is Russia and Ukraine’s reluctance to hold talks. Ukraine is feeling that it is getting success on the battlefield. On the other hand, Russia is also not in a mood to talk.
If the rising energy prices due to the war make the life of the common people in Ukraine really miserable, then a compromise or a ceasefire may be possible. It is worth noting that earlier this year French President Emmanuel Macron had put forward the idea of holding a peace talks in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, this idea did not materialise. India is being seen as a potential peacemaker due to better relations with both the sides. If Russia and Ukraine express interest in a neutral third party mediation, India would be a strong candidate with credibility from both sides. PM Modi has good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and can talk to Russia directly.
However, Ukraine and the US were angered by India’s continued buying of oil from Russia and its refusal to support resolutions against Russia. Earlier in September, during a summit in Uzbekistan, PM Modi said that the whole world is paying the price for the war in Ukraine. Modi told Putin that today’s era is not of war and let us discuss how we can move forward on the path of peace. Whereas when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was asked at a conference in New Zealand last month, what are you doing to persuade the parties involved in the war to talk? So he said that ‘whatever we can do, we are ready to do it.’
