New Delhi: India’s efforts to help end the Russia-Ukraine war have come into the spotlight, with Ukraine saying it is considering an Indian proposal for a ceasefire and the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his continuing efforts to find a peaceful solution. Neither side has announced a formal India-led mediation process, but the comments from Kyiv and Moscow point to New Delhi’s growing diplomatic engagement with both countries.
The Ukrainian foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, said at a press briefing that Kyiv is considering four international proposals aimed at moving the conflict towards a ceasefire, according to RBC-Ukraine. He called India’s proposal the most comprehensive and said New Delhi had, for the first time, signalled its willingness to play an active role in the process.
The other proposals have come from Türkiye, Egypt and the US. Türkiye and Egypt have proposed a truce covering grain and agricultural activity in the Black Sea, while the US proposal focuses on an energy truce.
Sybiha said Ukraine is ready to consider both an energy truce and a Black Sea truce, but wants them to be part of a connected package. Kyiv has also said it is ready for an unconditional ceasefire along the line of contact, which could follow a meeting between the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Putin.
Russia has also publicly acknowledged Modi’s efforts. RNA Media earlier reported that Putin, speaking at the Valdai International Discussion Club, said Modi regularly raises the Ukraine conflict and has “very good ideas” for finding a solution acceptable to both sides.
Putin also thanked Modi for supporting a peaceful resolution. His remarks came weeks after he met Modi on the sidelines of the Brics summit in New Delhi, where the two leaders discussed bilateral ties and regional and global developments.
India has kept up communication with both Moscow and Kyiv throughout the war. New Delhi has continued its strategic relationship with Russia, but it has also engaged Ukraine at the highest political level and has repeatedly said the conflict should be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy rather than military action.
Modi has consistently said India is ready to support meaningful efforts towards peace, while maintaining that a lasting solution requires engagement between the parties. The external affairs minister, S Jaishankar, also underlined India’s continued diplomatic engagement with Kyiv in a recent meeting with Zelenskyy.
During his visit to Kyiv last month, Jaishankar said: “If India can be of any help, in any manner, we are there.” However, India, Russia and Ukraine have not publicly disclosed the details of what New Delhi has proposed, so the exact content of the proposal remains unclear.