A New Narrative: “India Not Neutral”

India is using Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi to reset global perceptions of its Ukraine stance. Rather than remaining a passive bystander, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cast India as an active “peace power”—a country aligned not with either bloc, but with the pursuit of negotiated stability. His pointed declaration that “India is not neutral; India is on the side of peace” marks one of the strongest public articulations of New Delhi’s position since the war began.

By opening the meeting with a call for diplomacy, de-escalation and protection of civilian life, Modi signalled both continuity with past concerns and a deliberate attempt to inject moral clarity into India’s traditionally calibrated messaging.

Peace Signalling and Kremlin Calculus

Putin’s warm acknowledgement of India’s “continued attention” to potential settlement pathways suggests that Moscow sees value in Delhi’s role—even if not as a mediator, then as a strategically important sounding board. Coming soon after his discussions with US envoys, the Russian president’s decision to brief Modi on negotiation channels underscores that India is among the rare global actors he regularly updates on both battlefield dynamics and diplomatic manoeuvring.

This positioning matters. While India cannot force Moscow into concessions, its discomfort with the war’s prolongation adds to the growing voices across the Global South urging a political endgame, subtly shaping the context in which Russia weighs future choices.

Strategic Depth Beyond the Ukraine Lens

Even as peace rhetoric shaped the optics, the meeting reaffirmed the dense strategic architecture of the India–Russia partnership. Defence cooperation—from BrahMos missiles and S-400 systems to potential discussions on advanced fighter platforms—remains a backbone of bilateral ties. Beyond the military sphere, collaboration spans nuclear technology, space missions, AI research and industrial cooperation.

Modi’s description of Russia as a “special and privileged strategic partner” highlights India’s multi-alignment doctrine: deepen ties with Russia while expanding partnerships with the US and its Indo-Pacific allies. The peace narrative provides a diplomatic bridge that allows India to maintain this balance without appearing ambivalent.

How the Meeting Could Shape Ukraine Peace Efforts

While the Modi–Putin encounter will not transform the Ukraine negotiations overnight, it could influence the broader landscape in several ways:

·       Reinforcing great-power pathways: Putin’s emphasis on working with the US on possible settlements signals that any meaningful agreement will be US–Russia crafted. India’s conversations with both sides help maintain diplomatic hygiene around this process.

·       Providing Global South legitimacy: If Moscow eventually accepts limits on expansion or agrees to talks, India’s endorsement could help soften perceptions that Russia yielded to Western pressure.

·       Maintaining an open back-channel: New Delhi’s ability to convey Western and Ukrainian red lines to Moscow, and vice versa, keeps communication alive when formal channels stall.

·       Agenda-setting for future summits: India’s persistent peace framing ensures that any ceasefire or diplomatic breakthrough is likely to reference consultation with Delhi.

Yet constraints remain: India will not join sanctions, and Russia will not entertain terms perceived as capitulation. The value India adds is incremental—steadying communication, reducing mistrust, and supporting conditions under which serious bargaining might eventually resume.

A Peace Posture with Strategic Intent

Modi’s “not neutral” declaration marks an evolution in India’s diplomatic vocabulary—an attempt to claim the mantle of a principled, autonomous power advocating stability without compromising long-term strategic ties. The Delhi meeting may not produce breakthroughs, but it strengthens India’s position as a credible interlocutor for all major players. In a war where formal negotiations remain distant, that credibility is its own quiet form of influence.

(With agency inputs)