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Modi Goes to Ukraine, But do Zelensky and the West Want a Peace Deal?
Modi Goes to Ukraine, But do Zelensky and the West Want a Peace Deal?
Sputnik India
Volodomyr Zelensky and his Western patrons are more interested in escalating the Ukraine conflict, than pursuing a genuine peace deal, experts told Sputnik India ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ukraine.
2024-08-23T15:34+0530
2024-08-23T15:34+0530
2024-08-23T15:58+0530
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"Without the West’s participation and direct endorsement, the Ukraine war would have never happened. If the US and the West are truly peace-loving, why don’t they talk directly to Moscow and workout a peace deal that safeguards the interests of both Russia and Ukraine?" said Brigadier (retired) V Mahalingam, a defence analyst and an Army veteran.The path to peace in Ukraine goes through Washington, not Kiev, the Army veteran explained, stressing that there is currently no viable path for peace since Western powers want the war to continue "till the last Ukrainian.”The view on the "strategic value" of Prime Minister Modi's visit to Ukraine was echoed by Air Marshal (retired) M Matheswaran, the Founder of the Chennai-based think tank The Peninsula Foundation (TPF) and a former Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (DCIDS).The think-tank chief further questioned Zelensky's reliability as a partner for India, given his recent statements, including direct criticism of Modi's visit to Moscow, as well as Kiev's recent military manoeuvres in Russian's Kursk region, which have escalated the conflict.The veteran labelled the Kursk incursion, which, according to Russia, has been helped by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies, as a "desperate attempt" by Zelensky.'A Completely Unnecessary Visit'Meanwhile, defence analyst and author Pravin Sawhney described Modi's visit to Kiev as "completely unnecessary".He rejected the idea that Washington would expedite the sharing of crucial military technologies with India as a reciprocal gesture for Modi's visit.Sawhney noted that Ukraine's Kursk offensive has further complicated peace efforts, pointing out that Moscow has categorically stated it will not negotiate with Zelensky in the wake of this invasion.Sawhney also questioned Zelensky's reliability as a partner to India.Meanwhile, on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned that all "foreign combatants" involved in attacks on the Kursk Oblast are "genuine military targets" and would be destroyed.India Should be Wary of Western Trap: Ex-PM AideSudheendra Kulkarni, a former aide to the late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, supported Modi's visit, viewing it as a genuine effort by New Delhi to achieve peace in Ukraine.However, he warned that Modi should avoid endorsing the Western stance on Ukraine, which largely disregards Moscow's concerns regarding NATO's expansion.
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Modi Goes to Ukraine, But do Zelensky and the West Want a Peace Deal?
15:34 23.08.2024 (Updated: 15:58 23.08.2024) Volodomyr Zelensky and his Western patrons are more interested in escalating the Ukraine conflict, than pursuing a genuine peace deal, experts told Sputnik India ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ukraine.
"Without the West’s participation and direct endorsement, the Ukraine war would have never happened. If the US and the West are truly peace-loving, why don’t they talk directly to Moscow and workout a peace deal that safeguards the interests of both Russia and Ukraine?" said Brigadier (retired) V Mahalingam, a defence analyst and an Army veteran.
The path to peace in Ukraine goes through Washington, not Kiev, the Army veteran explained, stressing that there is currently no viable path for peace since Western powers want the war to continue "till the last Ukrainian.”
Mahalingam also suggested that the recent political unrest in Bangladesh may have played a role in Modi's decision to visit Ukraine.
The view on the "strategic value" of Prime Minister Modi's visit to Ukraine was echoed by Air Marshal (retired) M Matheswaran, the Founder of the Chennai-based think tank The Peninsula Foundation (TPF) and a former Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (DCIDS).
"Prime Minister’s visit to Ukraine is being seen as an attempt at balancing in view of his recent trip to Russia. To India’s Western partners, the Prime Minister is sending a signal that India is neutral in the conflict. We are in fact neutral in this conflict. But, in my opinion, there was no pressing requirement to demonstrate this neutrality, particularly at this point of time when Ukrainian forces have intruded into Kursk," Matheswaran opined.
The think-tank chief further questioned Zelensky's reliability as a partner for India, given his recent statements, including direct criticism of Modi's visit to Moscow, as well as Kiev's recent military manoeuvres in Russian's Kursk region, which have escalated the conflict.
"I believe that the Prime Minister will ask Zelensky to sit on the negotiating table to end the conflict, there’s no doubt about that. What meaning will Zelensky make of the Prime Minister’s advice needs to be seen. But we have seen that Zelensky hasn’t been entirely transparent in pursuit of peace," Matheswaran added.
The veteran labelled the Kursk incursion, which, according to Russia, has been helped by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies, as a "desperate attempt" by Zelensky.
"Although Ukrainian forces have made short-term gains, they are bound to incur strategic costs as Russian forces seem to have been mobilising for a possible onslaught. In my view, whatever limited manpower and resources that Ukraine has had have been depleted due to this," stated Matheswaran.
'A Completely Unnecessary Visit'
Meanwhile, defence analyst and author Pravin Sawhney described Modi's visit to Kiev as "completely unnecessary".
"In a strategic sense, India gains nothing out of this visit. India has very little or no role in mediating the Ukraine conflict. At this critical juncture, while Ukrainian forces have got into Kursk, the Russian military has made deep breaches into the Donbass region. The Kursk offensive could be a turning point of this war. I believe the future of NATO is at stake after the Kursk offensive," Sawhney remarked.
He rejected the idea that Washington would expedite the sharing of crucial military technologies with India as a reciprocal gesture for Modi's visit.
"The defence deals with the US will follow their own trajectory. These deals don't have anything to do with this visit. Both are independent events," he opined.
Sawhney noted that Ukraine's Kursk offensive has further complicated peace efforts, pointing out that Moscow has categorically stated it will not negotiate with Zelensky in the wake of this invasion.
Sawhney also questioned Zelensky's reliability as a partner to India.
"Russia has made it very clear that Zelensky is no longer the legitimate President of Ukraine. His term has already expired (in May), which makes him an illegal president. In this context, India should have gone by what Russia has been saying," the analyst offered.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned that all "foreign combatants" involved in attacks on the Kursk Oblast are "genuine military targets" and would be destroyed.
India Should be Wary of Western Trap: Ex-PM Aide
Sudheendra Kulkarni, a former aide to the late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, supported Modi's visit, viewing it as a genuine effort by New Delhi to achieve peace in Ukraine.
"I wholeheartedly welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ukraine. India has been a votary of peace since time immemorial. Today India is also the world’s most populous nation and a rising economic and political power. Therefore, India has an obligation to strive for peace in the world, and actively participate in efforts to end wars and conflicts wherever they may have flared up in the world," Kulkarni remarked.
However, he warned that Modi should avoid endorsing the Western stance on Ukraine, which largely disregards Moscow's concerns regarding NATO's expansion.
"In trying to end the war in Ukraine, PM Modi should keep in mind that the main source of the problem was Western powers’ design to expand NATO, and bring it to the borders of Russia. India must never support this," Kulkarni concluded.
