Ukraine is seeking India's help to mediate dialogue with Russia, as New Delhi's global influence could persuade Moscow to engage in peace talks, Ukrainian ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk said on Wednesday.

Ukrainian ambassador Oleksandr Polishchuk stated that Ukraine expects India to take responsibility for global matters as part of its bid for a seat on the United Nations Security Council. He urged India to develop a "concrete plan for diplomacy and dialogue."

His comments follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ukraine last month, where he met President Volodymyr Zelensky. Additionally, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have called on India and China to help in resolving the conflict.

“Maybe India can play the role of a courier to deliver messages, but this isn’t what we expected from India. We expected moderation of the dialogue with Russia, we need those who can moderate negotiations,” Polishchuk said.

“If the only way ahead is diplomacy and dialogue, India can’t be just a post box. India should use its position and relations with Russia to convince Moscow of the need to take part in peace talks.”

He added, “Aiming for the seat [in a reformed UN Security Council] just to protect its national interests would be a low target. Of course, Ukraine supports India’s bid for UN Security Council membership.”

Amid renewed efforts for peace talks, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday that India believes Russia's participation is crucial to advance negotiations to end the conflict. New Delhi is willing to offer its advice to both countries.

Polishchuk highlighted that National Security Adviser Ajit Doval’s visit to Russia and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar’s meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov present a "great chance" for India to share insights from its visit to Kyiv. He also mentioned that although the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Zelensky was initially scheduled for 40 minutes, it lasted three hours, with both sides engaging in "open and frank discussions."

Modi briefed Zelensky on his July meeting with Putin, sharing his observations and conclusions.

Polishchuk mentioned that while Zelensky appreciated India’s involvement in discussions on Ukraine’s peace plan and the peace summit in Switzerland, he suggested holding the second peace summit in India, with the condition that India agrees to the communiqué from the first summit. Zelensky also requested that India host the second summit before November 2024.

He hoped the office of India’s NSA and the external affairs ministry could make “concrete proposals” for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. “If India is participating in discussions and meetings, it should have its own position,” he said, expressing hope India will have a “concrete plan for diplomacy and dialogue”.

Polishchuk welcomed the involvement of an Indian NGO in humanitarian demining operations in Ukraine and appreciated New Delhi’s offer to fund community projects.

“India’s Horizon Group has set up an office in Kyiv and is awaiting certification to start the humanitarian demining project. This is a good and positive move,” he said, pointing to demining work done in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia and Kuwait by the NGO founded by senior retired Indian Army officers.

“Ukraine looks forward to taking up India’s offer on high-impact community development projects. There was a green light from India for private firms to come to Ukraine for rebuilding and reconstruction,” he added.

With Russia intensifying attacks on power distribution facilities and hydropower plants as winter approaches, including one near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Ukraine is turning to India for generators and transformers. Polishchuk noted that equipment from BHEL is particularly valuable because it was developed using Ukrainian technology.

Image source: Hindustan Times