Kyiv seeks India's help for post-war rebuild amid global dynamics

Kyiv is keen on enlisting India's assistance in rebuilding Ukraine following the Russian invasion. Dmytro Kuleba, the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, is currently in New Delhi. He is engaging in discussions that primarily focus on refining the ties with the Kremlin—ties steeped in a Soviet-era legacy, as analyzed by the "Financial Times."

Kuleba highlighted to "FT" the ephemeral nature of the Soviet-influenced bond between India and Russia. He emphasized, “This legacy is evaporating.”

He underscored the significance of the tense Indo-Chinese relations, especially concerning the border disputes with Beijing. These disputes gain complexity with China's support of the Kremlin's actions in Ukraine.

The head of Ukrainian diplomacy accentuated the importance of considering Chinese-Russian dynamics in the context of India's national security.

Kuleba aims to engage the world’s most populous nation in Ukraine's post-war rebuilding efforts. In 2023, India's population surpassed that of China.

Kuleba expressed, “Ukraine is set to become the world's largest construction site post-aggression. The involvement of Indian companies would be notably welcome.”

India's aspiration to lead the Global South and its pivotal role on the world stage are well recognized. Bartłomiej Radziejewski, president of the think tank New Confederation, and Prof. Agnieszka Kuszewska-Bohnert from the Jagiellonian University have both praised India's growing economic prominence and stressed the importance of shedding Eurocentric perspectives to better appreciate India's significant contributions and potential.

India's response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been marked by ambiguity. While maintaining a strategic silence on criticizing Russia, India acknowledges the long-standing partnership with Moscow as central to its foreign policy and national security.

A notable moment came at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Uzbekistan, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi implied to Vladimir Putin that it was not the appropriate time for war.

Recent reports from Bloomberg in spring 2023 highlighted India's import of cheap Russian oil, which is then refined and sold at higher prices to European nations.

By the end of January, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggested that India might be reducing its military cooperation with Russia, prompted by Russia’s dwindling export capabilities and India’s intent to maintain favorable relations with the USA.

Moreover, towards the end of 2022, Al Jazeera posited that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi might play a crucial role in mediating an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.