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The ongoing war in Ukraine continues to dominate global headlines, with diplomatic efforts to find a resolution gaining momentum. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a significant move, has proposed a summit in India aimed at ending the conflict with Russia. This proposal, put forward during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Ukraine, reflects Zelenskyy's strategy to garner support from nations in the Global South for his peace plan.
Zelenskyy's objective is to hold a second summit, building upon a previous gathering in June that sought to unite nations of the Global South behind Kyiv's stance in the protracted war. While India has expressed a willingness to contribute constructively to peace efforts, it has yet to agree to host the proposed summit. This hesitancy stems from India's position that any peace initiative must involve both Russia and Ukraine, a condition that Zelenskyy's current blueprint fails to meet.
The proposed summit takes on a new sense of urgency as Russian forces gain ground in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, and Ukrainian troops launch a surprise incursion into Russia's Kursk region. This escalating conflict, coupled with the growing skepticism from India about Zelenskyy's peace plan, highlights the challenges in finding a diplomatic resolution to the war. The June summit, hosted by Switzerland and drawing participation from over 100 countries and organizations, fell short of its goal of solidifying global support for Ukraine's peace initiative. Notably, China did not attend, and India, along with delegations from Indonesia and South Africa, declined to sign the final communiqué.
India's stance on the war has been marked by its long-standing ties with Russia, a key supplier of oil and weapons. PM Modi's recent visits to both Moscow and Kyiv reflect this balancing act. While expressing support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, India has maintained its call for a diplomatic solution, urging both sides to engage in dialogue. The West has expressed strong criticism of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but India has maintained its political and economic connections with Moscow. This approach has drawn criticism from US and Ukrainian officials, particularly following Modi's meeting with Putin on the day of a Russian missile strike on a children's hospital in Kyiv.
The prospect of a summit involving Russia has become uncertain following the incursion into Kursk, which was followed by Russia's largest aerial attack on Ukraine since the invasion began. The attack targeted Ukraine's power infrastructure, underscoring the ongoing conflict's destructive nature. Zelenskyy has declared the incursion into Kursk part of a 'victory plan' aimed at ending the war. However, his army chief acknowledged that the attack has not effectively weakened Russia's offensive in the east. Meanwhile, Russian military bloggers have claimed that Ukraine's defenses near Pokrovsk, a crucial logistics hub for Kyiv's eastern operations, have weakened. Speculation persists that Ukraine may be holding back forces for counterattacks in other regions.
The proposed India summit represents a significant step in the diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. However, the differing positions of key players, particularly India's insistence on Russia's inclusion and Ukraine's reluctance to engage with Russia's demands, pose substantial challenges to finding a peaceful resolution. The escalating conflict, marked by Russia's gains in the east and Ukraine's counteroffensive, adds further complexity to the situation. As the war progresses, the international community faces a critical juncture in its efforts to end the conflict and pave the way for a lasting peace.
Source: Zelenskyy proposes summit in India to push plan to end Russia-Ukraine war