Tazeen Akhtar
Modi is in Moscow – Putin is happy to receive the oldest closest ally in Asia and South Asia but the ally is suggesting the steps that are allied to Russian invasion of Ukraine. India is very interesting country. On one side , India is called natural ally by USA and on the other, Russia feels proud of alliance with India. USA and Russia are at daggers drawn otherwise. Yes! one can call it diplomatic achievement of India.
In this regard Vietnam is more better example than India. Vietnam has hosted Biden, Xi and latest Putin within a short span of less than one year. Question is , India and Vietnam can play their role in convincing Putin to sit on the table with Zelenskyy? End the war and restore peace? Return the annexed or disintegrated territories of Ukraine?
As Modi is in Kremlin now , we can analyze what is being discussed on Ukraine. According to different media reports so far, Modi has shared with Putin that his heart aches seeing the deaths of the Children. Russian attacks only one day before Modi arrived at Moscow hit a specialized children hospital in Kyiv.Modi is said to convince Putin that War is not the solution to the problems.
Some international media have touched Russia China growing relations as the disturbing point for Modi that he is raising with Putin in this visit. But Kremlin has contradicted such reports that there are some disagreements between the two leaders.
India is importing cheap oil from Russia despite international sanctions on Russia. Foreign Minister of Ukraine Mr. Kuleba visited Pakistan few years ago where he answered to a question of this scribe as,” The countries that are buying the oil from Russia are actually buying it on the price of the blood of Ukrainian people.”
Russian Shelling on Kyiv and other Cities of Ukraine – Specialized Children’s Hospital among the Targets – Many Died
Pakistan started restoration / enhancing close cooperation with Russia during Imran Khan government. Imran was present at Kremlin with Putin on 24 Feb 2022 when Russia initiated the attacks on Ukraine. Imran’s agenda was mainly energy cooperation but his presence at Kremlin at that time was seen as Pakistan’s support to Russia on invasion of Ukraine. Pakistan has not attended the Global Peace Summit 15-16 June in Switzerland. Now Imran’s arch rival party PMLN is in government.
It means a constant policy from Pakistan side on Russia Ukraine. Pakistan’s point is the violation of territorial integrity of any country is condemnable / unacceptable but Pakistan can do this in case of Russia Ukraine when the West+USA condemn the illegal occupation of India on Jammu & Kashmir as well.
Looking at the complicated state of relations between different countries and their diversified stances on the burning issues of the time , Ukraine, Gaza, Kashmir etc , the solution to Russian stand on Crimea, Donbas and overall war on Ukraine has become a dilemma to solve in the near future and according to the international law and charter of United Nations.
India has a say on both sides. India can play a positive role to bring the war to end in a win win situation for all. Indian influence on Russia can be helpful to convince Russia to consider the Peace Formula and the recommendations of Global Peace Summit to restore peace in the region. But what India may be careful of, is her own disputes with China and Pakistan.
India has illegally occupied the territories in North West (Kashmir and Laddakh) and North East (Arunachal Pardesh) on which both China and Pakistan have fought many wars while the skirmishes on the boundary lines is a routine.
Modi, ethically , can not raise the return of occupied or annexed regions of Ukraine. Without this, no solution seems possible. Similarly NATO expansion to the borders of Russia is the point of deadlock from the western side.
Any type of mediation is possible only when both sides soften their stances on the above mentioned issues. For that , President Xi has recently emphasized on both sides to talk to each other for the solution. For that both countries can initiate a back door diplomacy at least on some lower level to take a start and later higher officials can sit on the table.
In the meanwhile the world leaders like Modi and other common friends can continue to convince both parties , especially the one that started it and that is occupying the Ukrainian lands. Mr. Putin is supposed to stop taking Ukraine as a small country that is easy to target. Sometimes an ant even can be the cause of the death of an animal.
Russia Supports Resumption of Negotiations with Ukraine BUT based on Agreements Reached in Belarus & Turkiye