India Should Play More Active Role To End Russia’s War: Ukraine’s Amb

Ukraine’s ambassador in New Delhi has stated that if India aspires to secure a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, it should take a more proactive stance in helping end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Oleksandr Polishchuk, Ukraine’s envoy, suggested that India use its close relationship with Russia to encourage Moscow to participate in peace negotiations and act as a mediator between the two sides. He also mentioned that Ukraine has proposed India host a peace summit before November 2024, though New Delhi's response is yet unclear.

Polishchuk criticised India’s approach, saying that if India only seeks the Security Council seat for its own interests, it is setting a low standard for itself. While India depends on Russia for military supplies and affordable oil, it has refrained from condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin for his invasion of Ukraine two years ago.

Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Kyiv in August for the first time since the conflict started, has called for diplomacy and dialogue, India has been hesitant to take on a more assertive role. New Delhi has agreed to relay messages between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy but has not committed to hosting a peace summit.

India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, echoed this cautious stance during his visit to Germany, emphasising that India’s involvement is not about appearance, but about the actual realities of the ongoing conflict. With Russia intensifying attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure, including near critical facilities like the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, there is increasing pressure for India to step up its efforts in mediating the war’s end.

India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is currently in Moscow for the BRICS meeting, where he is expected to meet Russian officials, including Putin. Modi has also been in communication with both Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden following his August visit to Kyiv.

Polishchuk urged India to go beyond just acting as a “messenger” between Ukraine and Russia and take on a more "robust" role in resolving the conflict.