Modi in Moscow

THERE are two key takeaways from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia, his first to that country since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. One, Delhi-Moscow relations are going from strength to strength, with bilateral cooperation covering a gamut of sectors — trade, commerce, security, agriculture, technology and innovation. Two, as a responsible global player, India is not shying away from nudging even an all-weather friend to see reason. A missile strike on a children’s hospital in Kyiv prompted Modi to tell Russian President Vladimir Putin that a solution to the Ukraine conflict was not possible on the battlefield ‘in the midst of bombs and bullets’. The PM’s statement that the killing of innocent children was heart-wrenching and painful may or may not have made Putin uncomfortable, especially since Modi’s presence in Moscow was proof to all concerned that he isn’t, and has not been, isolated since the start of the war. Still, Putin had the grace to appreciate Modi’s effort to find ways to resolve the Ukraine crisis.

The PM’s first bilateral visit of his third term also sent out a clear message to the US-led Western bloc: India will keep engaging with Russia to bolster the ‘special and privileged’ strategic partnership, notwithstanding the spectre of sanctions. Acknowledging this ground reality, albeit reluctantly, the US has said that it would continue to view India as a strategic partner despite having concerns over Delhi’s ties with Russia.

In September 2022, Modi had famously told Putin, ‘This is not the era of war.’ The remark soon gained currency, though it did not persuade the warring sides to take their foot off the pedal. Instead, Putin has been drumming up support for the Russian cause with his visits to China and North Korea in recent months. Now, India has again laid stress on dialogue and diplomacy to break the Russia-Ukraine stalemate. No matter what the outcome, Delhi’s pragmatic approach has ensured that neither the West nor Russia can take it for granted.