Benefits from partnership with Ukraine: how India could be a gamechanger in global diplomacy

Olha Konsevych

India’s participation in the upcoming global Peace Summit in Switzerland promises significant benefits for New Delhi.

India aims to strengthen its international standing by balancing relations between Western countries, China, and Russia. The shifting power dynamics due to Russia’s war against Ukraine present India with a unique opportunity to advance its economic and geopolitical interests.

Benefits from partnership with Ukraine: how India could be a gamechanger in global diplomacy — Ukrainian President **Volodymyr Zelensky** and Indian Prime Minister **Narendra Modi** in Tokyo, 2023

“China ‘ties Its hands’ with cooperation with Russia”

China will not participate in the peace conference on Ukraine in Switzerland in June, as it does not meet its expectations, which include the participation of both Russia and Ukraine, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on May 31, 2024. On the other hand, Moscow was not invited and considers the talks meaningless without its participation.

“Given that China tries to balance its relations with Russia and helps it circumvent sanctions, India behaves more cautiously and does not want to come under Western criticism, such as facing sanctions pressure,” Stanislav Zhelikhovskyi, PhD in Political Science, Corresponding Member of the Ukrainian Academy of geopolitics and geostrategy explained.

China and India are two of the most influential countries of the Global South, but this does not mean that the two states will act identically. Firstly, their political systems differ – India is a democratic country, while China’s bureaucratic and authoritarian structure hinders its ability to make flexible decisions.

“China ‘ties its hands’ with cooperation with Russia. Xi Jinping has not managed to meet American and European leaders halfway after his official visits. If it is confirmed that China is either providing or intends to provide weapons to Russia, as British intelligence suggests, this could have negative consequences for Beijing’s economy and potentially lead to China’s isolation on the international stage. This is where India could come into play,” the Ukrainian expert believes.

Real benefits for India

In Ukraine, it is believed that the summit in Switzerland presents an opportunity for Narendra Modi to declare that “the voice of the Global South will be heard.” Moreover, Ukraine, which is currently receiving support from the EU and working on European integration, can act as a mediator between India and European leaders.

“Participation in the Peace Summit allows India to affirm its role as a peacemaker and mediator with its own voice in global affairs,” Political Science researcher emphasized.

But what are the tangible benefits of cooperation between Kyiv and New Delhi?

At the end of March, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba visited India to discuss opportunities for improving bilateral cooperation, increasing trade turnover, and investments. India can seize the opportunity to profit from Ukraine’s reconstruction phase.

India, known for its numerous successful businesses and corporations, can become an important partner in this process. Ukraine, for instance, is interested in importing heavy machinery from India, besides investments.

“New Delhi will certainly play its role in peace negotiations”

“India traditionally obtains a significant portion of its weapons from Russia, but under current conditions, Ukrainian technologies that integrate with NATO standards could become an attractive alternative,” Stanislav Zhelikhovskyi added.

Regarding Kyiv’s peace initiative, it is currently known that India is interested in one particular part of President Volodymyr Zelensky‘s peace formula that involves humanitarian demining programs and assessing environmental damage caused by the war. This point is particularly relevant for Indian society, as the country has been working on normalizing its environmental situation in recent years.

“I think India will observe how events unfold, particularly regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war, what will be said at the peace summit itself, and what future prospects will emerge. But New Delhi will certainly play its role despite its ties with the Russian Federation. India has chosen a more thoughtful strategy compared to China,” concluded the Ukrainian expert.

31-05-2024

Olha Konsevych: Journalist, researcher , Max Planck Society alumna, 🇺🇦 topics for 🌏 media; Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany (images by Olha)

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