Diplomatic tightrope: Red carpet for Putin, now Delhi works on dates for Zelenskyy visit, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• Following Vladimir Putin's visit to India, plans are underway for a potential visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, possibly as early as January 2026.
• Discussions between Indian and Ukrainian officials have been ongoing for weeks, even before Putin's arrival.
• India maintains a stance of promoting dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the Russia-Ukraine war, with Prime Minister Modi stating, "India is not neutral, India is on the side of peace."
• India has reduced its Russian crude oil imports since September due to US penalty tariffs.

Detailed Insights:

• India aims to maintain engagement with both Russia and Ukraine, following a similar approach to 2024 when Prime Minister Modi visited both Moscow and Ukraine.
• The timing of Zelenskyy's visit depends on factors like the progress of Donald Trump's peace plan, battlefield developments, and Ukrainian domestic politics, including a recent corruption scandal.
• Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, Modi has spoken with Zelenskyy by phone at least eight times and met in person at least four times.
• Despite maintaining communication with both sides, India has had to adjust its Russian crude oil imports due to the impact of US tariffs, reflecting the conflict's direct impact.
• In meetings with Putin on December 5, both leaders referred to the Ukraine situation as a "crisis," a shift from Modi's 2022 statement that "this is not the era of war."
• India is reaching out to new officials in Zelenskyy's office after the resignation of Andriy Yermak, a key advisor, due to a corruption scandal, to coordinate the visit.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Diplomatic Balancing Act: A strategy of maintaining relationships with multiple parties in a conflict without taking a definitive side.
• Peace Initiatives: Proposals and efforts aimed at resolving conflicts through negotiation and diplomacy rather than military action.
• Secondary Sanctions: Penalties imposed on entities that engage in transactions with a sanctioned party, even if they are not directly targeted.