Moscow: US President Donald Trump's efforts to stop the war between Russia and Ukraine seem to be failing. On the other hand, expectations from India are increasing on this. India has overtaken China as a reliable mediator. India has succeeded in maintaining relations with both Russia and Ukraine during this war that has been going on for 42 months. This has strengthened India's position at the global level and especially in the Global South. This has increased the confidence that India can be a reliable mediator in stopping this bloodiest war in Europe in recent decades.
According to the report of Eurasian Times, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that he is ready to discuss a system of security guarantees on the Ukraine issue, which includes all the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, including China. President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected this and said that China has no place in it. Zelensky made it clear that he does not trust China.
Rejection to China, yes to India!
Ukraine's distrust of China shows how it views mediators and guarantors. India's name is being discussed as a mediator in Ukraine. In such a situation, this can be a big opportunity for India. One reason for this is that despite being an old and trusted ally of Russia, India maintained contact with Ukraine. At the same time, China is openly seen standing in the Russian camp.
Retired Chinese military officer Zhou Bo says that there has been a discussion about the deployment of foreign peacekeepers in Ukraine. Obviously these soldiers cannot be from Europe. If peacekeepers are needed in Ukraine, then they will be from China and India only. Kiev has not expressed confidence in Beijing. In such a situation, India is the only non-Western power that has both credibility and capability.
India's big contribution to the peacekeeping force
This is no new thing for India. India has been one of the largest contributors to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force since its independence. Indian soldiers have played their role on tense borders from Congo to Lebanon. On the one hand, India has this experience, and on the other hand, the trust of both Moscow and Kiev. Today, very few countries in the world can claim to be trusted by both Russia and Ukraine.
Experts say that India is not a part of NATO or the Western Bloc. This gives it independence in the eyes of Russia. On the other hand, India's partnership with the US and Europe assures Kiev that New Delhi is not a Trojan horse for Russia. Indian PM Modi can talk to Putin and Zelensky in the same week. This credibility is exactly what Ukraine needs in any peace deal.
