The Significance of PM Modi’s Visit to Kyiv: A Shift in India's Foreign Policy

What’s in today’s article?

• Why in News?
• Why is PM Modi going to Ukraine?
• PM Modi's Visit to Kyiv: A Shift in India's Traditional Foreign Policy on Ukraine?
• Impact of this visit on India’s relations with Russia

Why in News?

Today, PM Modi will hold talks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv. Modi will be the first Indian prime minister to visit Ukraine after diplomatic relations were established in 1992.

Why is PM Modi going to Ukraine?

• To reinforce India's foreign policy of strategic autonomy
• PM Modi's visit to Kyiv could be seen as a response to the backlash India faced after Modi's visit to Moscow, which coincided with rising tensions due to the Ukraine conflict. 
• The visit is aimed at reinforcing India's foreign policy of strategic autonomy and countering the perception of India's over-reliance on Russia.
• To extend support for Ukraine’s sovereignty
• This visit may also serve as a gesture of support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, as it coincides with Ukraine's Independence Day.
• India's potential role as a mediator in the Ukraine conflict
• India's potential role as a mediator in the Ukraine conflict is highlighted by its balanced relationships with the G7, Russia, and the Global South. 
• Ukraine, lacking substantial support from these regions in peace efforts, sees India's involvement as crucial.
• Kyiv's recent diplomatic engagements with countries like China and India's planned visit suggest an effort to find an effective mediator for negotiations with Russia. 
• India's unique position, viewed as equidistant from major global powers, makes it a strong candidate for facilitating peace talks.

PM Modi's Visit to Kyiv: A Shift in India's Traditional Foreign Policy on Ukraine?

• Departure from India’s traditional foreign policy stance
• India's traditional foreign policy has been closely aligned with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, a relationship that continued with Russia but did not extend to Ukraine after its independence in 1991. 
• Similarly, India's engagement with Poland diminished after the Warsaw Pact's dissolution and Poland's shift towards the West. 
• The ongoing visit of Prime Minister Modi to Ukraine and Poland signals a significant departure from India's historical bias towards Russia and marks a new chapter in India's engagement with central and eastern Europe.
• Reasons behind this departure
• Bilateral relations between India and Ukraine suffered significantly after the Russia-Ukraine war began in February 2022, with trade volume dropping from $3.39 billion in 2021-22 to less than $1 billion in the following two years. 
• Despite this, the conflict has opened new opportunities for India to engage with Ukraine. 
• India's leadership, including PM Modi, has maintained strategic balance while increasing direct engagement with Ukrainian counterparts through meetings at multilateral forums and bilateral discussions.
• India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval have also been in regular contact with Ukrainian officials. 
• The possibility of post-war reconstruction presents significant opportunities for India, including in defence industrial cooperation. 
• Ukraine's agricultural strength, especially as a major source of sunflower oil, adds to its strategic importance for India in the future.

Impact of this visit on India’s relations with Russia

• Not a reflection of weakening ties with Russia
• India's engagement with Ukraine is not a reflection of weakening ties with Russia, despite the discourse suggesting otherwise. 
• India's international actions are driven by its own agency as a confident and powerful nation, not by a need to appease or distance itself from Russia. 
• Framing Prime Minister Modi's visit to Ukraine as either an abandonment of Russia or a "redemption tour" post his Moscow visit overlooks India's independent capacity to navigate international relations.
• Common interests will always guide international relations
• India's strong relationship with Russia, including cooperation in areas like military hardware and economic support, continues despite Russia's engagement with China, India's main geopolitical rival. 
• Similarly, India's engagement with Ukraine will not alter its relationship with Russia. 
• Common interests guide international relations, and India's desire to play a peacemaking role, as indicated by PM Modi in Warsaw, requires engagement with all relevant parties, including Ukraine.

Q.1. How does PM Modi's visit to Kyiv signify a change in India's foreign policy?

PM Modi's visit to Kyiv signifies a departure from India's traditional pro-Russia stance, showcasing a more balanced foreign policy approach and reinforcing India's strategic autonomy on the global stage.

Q.2. Will India's engagement with Ukraine affect its relations with Russia?

India's engagement with Ukraine will not weaken its relations with Russia, as international relations are guided by common interests, and India's strategic decisions are made independently of external pressures.