Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Russia. This was his first visit to Russia since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict.
Upon arriving in Moscow, PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin embraced each other, which drew significant criticism in Western media.
However, this show of warmth between Modi and Putin did not sit well with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. On July 9, 2024, Zelensky expressed his displeasure, stating, “Today, 37 people, including three children, were killed in a Russian missile strike. Russia attacked the largest children's hospital in Ukraine. On such a day, the leader of the world's largest democracy embracing the world's most notorious criminal in Moscow is a great disappointment for peace efforts.”
It has been about a month and a half since that incident, and now PM Modi is set to visit Ukraine.
Many believe that this visit could make Russia uncomfortable, but it's also worth noting that India is not always at ease with President Putin's visits to China.
This visit is happening at a time when Ukraine has intensified its attacks within Russian territory and even gained control of some areas. There is concern that Russia may launch a major offensive against Ukraine soon.
Given the situation, questions are being raised about the timing of PM Modi's visit to Ukraine and why he is going there when the situation is so tense.
What Experts Are Saying
In May 2023, Zelensky and PM Modi had a meeting in Japan.
International affairs expert Brahma Chellaney tweeted, "Visiting Ukraine on August 23 is not only poor timing but also lacks a clear purpose. Ukraine's recent aggression has set back peace efforts. No Indian Prime Minister has visited Ukraine since its independence. There is no solid reason for PM Modi to go there, especially with tensions running high due to the ongoing war."
Praveen Sawhney, another expert on international relations, wrote, "With Russian forces intensifying their attacks on multiple fronts in Ukraine's Donbas region, what is the objective of PM Modi's visit to Ukraine?"
JNU Professor Happymon Jacob questioned why PM Modi is going to Ukraine at this time. In response, he shared an excerpt from External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's book *The India Way*, which states, "Emerging powers recognize the opportunities created by global contradictions and use them to advance their national interests."
Since the Russia-Ukraine war began in February 2022, PM Modi and Zelensky have met twice. Their first meeting took place in Japan in May 2023, followed by another in Italy in June 2024.
Defense expert Brahma Chellaney also mentioned that Modi's visit to Ukraine could prove to be problematic at this time. With Ukraine's recent incursions, Russia is preparing for a major counterattack, and the U.S. shows no interest in a ceasefire.
Chellaney advised Modi to focus on the challenges India is facing, referring to Bangladesh as an example.