India on Putin’s list of mediators for Russia-Ukraine peace talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin has acknowledged India as one of the key nations in ongoing efforts to mediate the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Alongside China and Brazil, India is seen as a genuine partner in the quest for peace, according to the state-owned TASS news agency. During the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, Putin expressed his readiness to facilitate peace talks if Ukraine is willing.

This statement comes shortly after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to Ukraine, where he held discussions with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "We respect our friends and partners, who I believe are genuinely working towards resolving this conflict, particularly China, Brazil, and India. I am in constant contact with my colleagues on this matter," Putin stated, as reported by TASS.

He emphasized that Russia has always been open to negotiations, referencing the early talks in 2022. In another statement, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Izvestia daily that India could potentially facilitate dialogue between the conflicting parties. Highlighting the strong relationship between PM Modi and Putin, Peskov noted that Modi has the unique ability to communicate directly with key figures involved in the conflict, including Zelenskyy and American officials. This positions India to potentially influence the US and Ukraine towards peace talks.

However, he added that there are currently no concrete plans for Modi to mediate, citing a lack of conducive conditions for such talks at the moment. During his visit to Ukraine on August 23, PM Modi urged Zelenskyy to engage in direct talks with Russia, emphasizing the urgency of seeking an end to the war. Modi reiterated India's longstanding support for peace and expressed his willingness to actively contribute to resolving the conflict.

Modi's nearly nine-hour visit to Ukraine, the first by an Indian Prime Minister since Ukraine's independence in 1991, followed a summit with Putin six weeks earlier. This meeting had raised some concerns in Western countries. In Kyiv, Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to peace and his personal readiness to help achieve a peaceful resolution.