Ukraine’s Ambassador to India Oleksandr Polishchuk. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

As the government essays a possible role for India in peace-making in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ukraine’s Government is keen for New Delhi to sign on to the Swiss Peace Summit document, which would entail reversing India’s previous decision in June to disassociate from it. Speaking to The Hindu, Ukraine’s Ambassador to India Oleksandr Polishchuk said that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had proposed a retrospective move by India to join the peace process ahead of plans for a second Peace Summit in October or November this year, and that Ukraine had more “ambition” than for India to play “post office” between the leaders . 

Also read: Negotiating for peace: On the ‘Summit on Peace’, in Burgenstock

“We hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ukraine and conversations with President Zelenskyy indicate India’s support for the peace-building effort,” Mr. Polishchuk told The Hindu in Delhi, in his first interview after the visit, where he confirmed that Mr. Zelenskyy “discussed the possibility that India could review its decision at the first peace summit in Switzerland, and associate itself with the Burgenstock joint communique”, retrospectively or for India to formulate its own proposals that support principles like humanitarian access, nuclear safety, etc. 

‘PM Modi can play a larger role’

After the Swiss Peace Summit in June, India had issued a statement disassociating itself from its outcome as it did not involve both Russia and Ukraine at the table. 

“A large democracy like India should not just be a messenger or post office, conveying messages from one country in the conflict to the other— given PM Modi’s ability to speak to all sides, he can play a larger role in guiding the process and even in hosting the peace summit,“ he added.

The Envoy’s comments come as the Modi Government has stepped up its outreach to other countries playing a role in current efforts to end the conflict, after PM Narendra Modi’s visits to Moscow and Kiev in July and August, and upcoming visits to the United States and U.N. in September and Russia in October, where he will meet other world leaders.

In addition, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is on a six-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Germany and Switzerland (September 8-13) where he will also engage other Gulf country Ministers, as well as heads of U.N. organisations, apart from bilateral meetings.

NSA Doval to visit Russia

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval will visit Russia this week (September 10-12) for the BRICS NSA meetings where he will meet counterparts from China, Brazil, South Africa, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Ethiopia.

The flurry of diplomatic visits come after Mr. Zelenskyy pitched India as a possible mediator along with other “Global South” countries and Mr. Putin said he valued any efforts by India, China and Brazil on the conflict, and that he was “constantly in touch” with all three.

In May 2024, China and Brazil had presented a six-point peace proposal to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and officials have declined to comment on whether India would endorse the proposal or make its own alternative peace proposal. In Kiev on August 23, Mr. Jaishankar had said it was for the “parties concerned to respond” to the China-Brazil proposal, not India.

Mr. Polishchuk said that while one part of the Modi-Zelenskyy talks had focused on peace efforts, they had also discussed bilateral issues at length, and in particular humanitarian projects in which India could support Ukraine during the conflict.

Although the Modi Government has thus far not accepted Ukrainian requests for possibly “dual use” supplies like diggers and construction equipment, as well as telecom towers and hospital infrastructure, Kiev is now hopeful that India will approve MoUs for electricity generators and transformers given the power crisis in Ukraine, as well as de-mining equipment and prosthetics for those who have lost limbs in the war.

In addition, the Ambassador said they would identify “High Impact Community Development Projects” like school and hospital reconstruction, fitted with computers and air-raid shelters, that could be proposed as part of the MoU signed on Humanitarian Grant Assistance with India. 

 “We need to pay more attention to the implementation of the various plans for cooperation that the leaders agreed to” Mr. Polishchuk said, adding that “The ball is now in our court [the Embassy’s] to study which humanitarian projects we could present for India to disburse funds for.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchanged greetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his arrival at Mariinsky Palace, in Kyiv on Friday (August 23, 2024).
| Photo Credit: ANI

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday (August 23, 2024) that India supported his country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, underscoring that New Delhi’s support was “critical” because everyone in the world must equally respect the UN Charter.

“Today, history was made. The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, made his first visit to Ukraine since our country’s independence, on the eve of our Independence Day,” Mr. Zelenskyy posted on X (formerly Twitter) after holding talks with PM Narendra Modi.

Mr. Modi arrived in Kyiv this morning on a special train on the first-ever visit to Ukraine by an Indian Prime Minister after it became independent in 1991.

Mr. Zelenskyy noted that four documents between Ukraine and India, covering the medical field, agricultural cooperation, humanitarian relations, and culture, were signed.

Also Read: PM Modi in Ukraine highlights: India hands over BHISHM cubes to Ukraine

Following the visit, “we also agreed on a joint statement focusing on the development of a strategic partnership, bilateral trade, and continued military-technical cooperation.”

“India supports Ukraine’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. And this is critical because everyone in the world must equally respect the UN Charter,” Mr. Zelenskyy emphasised.

In his talks with Mr. Zelenskyy that took place under the shadow of the raging war, Mr. Modi said India is ever ready to play an “active role” in every effort to restore peace in Ukraine and he would even like to contribute personally in ending the conflict.

“We [India] are not neutral. From the very beginning, we have taken sides. And we have chosen the side of peace. We have come from the land of Buddha where there is no place for war,” Mr. Modi said in his opening remarks during the talks.

“We have come from the land of Mahatma Gandhi who had given a message of peace to the entire world,” he said.

The Prime Minister also asserted India’s strong commitment towards respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

Also Read: Four pacts inked as PM Modi ends ‘landmark’ Ukraine visit

“I want to assure you and the entire global community that India is committed to respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity (of states) and it is of utmost importance to us,” he said.

Mr. Modi also apprised Mr. Zelenskyy of his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Samarkand in September 2022 as well as in Moscow last month.

“Some time back, when I met President Putin in Samarkand, I had told him that this was not the era of war. Last month when I went to Russia, I said in clear words that a solution to any problem is never found on the battlefield,” Mr. Modi said.

“The solution comes through talks, dialogue and diplomacy and we should move ahead in that direction without wasting time. Both sides should sit together and find ways to come out of this crisis,” Mr. Modi said.

The Prime Minister’s visit to Kyiv is seen in many quarters as a diplomatic balancing act as his trip to Russia triggered anguish among some Western countries.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said Mr. Modi reiterated the need for “practical engagement” between all stakeholders to develop an innovative solution that will help build broad acceptability and contribute towards peace and stability.

The Prime Minister conveyed to Mr. Zelenskyy India’s willingness to contribute in “all possible ways” to facilitate an early return of peace to Ukraine, he told journalists.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during presentation of BHISHM cube to Ukraine, in Kyiv, on August 23, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Friday (August 23, 2024) said that India has handed over 10 BHISHM cubes, which contain medical support equipment of 22 tonnes along with 10 generator sets.

PM Modi in Ukraine LIVE

The presentation of the Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri (BHISHM) cubes has been one of the key highlights of the ongoing visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to war-affected Ukraine.

The BHISHM Cubes, also known as Arokya Maitri cubes, are critical trauma care cubes that have been indigenously developed by Project BHISHM under Project Aarogya Maitri .

Spearheaded by HLL Life Care, the government’s designated agency for sourcing the kit, and manufactured by multiple sellers collaborating to provide a diverse range of essential medical products, this project was initiated in 2022 through the Ministry of Defence.

The BHISHM cubes are an easy-to-use, mobile medical facility that can be swiftly deployed to save lives in the most challenging circumstances. It can provide critical medical care to 100 survivors for up to 48 hours, making it a lifeline on remote and tough terrains where immediate medical attention is needed.

According to reports, the aid cube is equipped with several innovative tools designed to enhance disaster response and medical support during emergencies. It integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics to facilitate effective coordination, real-time monitoring, and efficient management of medical services in the field.

Each cube consists of a fully equipped operation theatre, mini-ICUs, ventilators, blood-testing equipment, an X-ray machine, and even a cooking station. It also includes a shelter facility and power generator, making it entirely self-sufficient during emergencies.

The life-saving equipment are packed in a set of “mini-cubes” and a combination of these mini-cubes is used to set up a mobile hospital capable of performing life-saving surgery. The mini-cubes are carried in a “Aarogya Maitri Cube Cage”, which has three frames, each accommodating 12 mini-cubes. An Aarogya Maitri Cube Cage can fit 36 mini-cubes overall.

Earlier, the central government in collaboration with the Indian Air Force and Indian Army carried out a first-of-its-kind precise para-drop operation of the Aarogya Maitri Health Cube at a high-altitude area close to 15,000 feet on August 17, 2024. It was also deployed at Ayodhya for the inauguration ceremony, the ‘Pran Pratishtha,’ of the Ram Mandir on 22nd January.

India has already gifted these units as a goodwill gesture to Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

Following talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Mr. Modi said on Thursday that the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia are a matter of “deep concern” and that “dialogue and diplomacy” is the way forward to restore peace.

“This is India’s firm belief that no problem can be solved on the battlefield. In any crisis, the loss of lives of innocent people has become the biggest challenge for the whole of humanity,” he said.

“We support dialogue and diplomacy for the early restoration of peace and stability. For this, India, along with its friendly countries, is ready to provide all possible support,” he said in a media statement in Warsaw.

-PTI