India has agreed to hand over messages between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, writes "Bloomberg", citing sources.
Interlocutors, however, add that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not intend to become a mediator in the diplomatic settlement of the issue. As the agency explains, this position is partly due to India's dependence on cheap Russian energy resources and weapons, in connection with which the Indian authorities refrain from criticizing Moscow.
It is important for Zelensky to meet the Indian prime minister to discuss India's role in restoring peace, the sources said. However, the visit is unlikely to become an occasion for major statements, although several agreements are planned, for example in the fields of defense and agro-industry. The Ukrainian state company "Zorya-Mashproekt" is discussing with India the joint production of gas turbines used on warships, Bloomberg's sources said.
Last month, Modi traveled to Russia and met Putin. Commenting on the hostilities, he stated at the meeting with the Russian president that "war is not a solution" and "bombs, rockets and guns cannot bring peace". Putin thanked him in return and that ended the public part of the meeting.
In the spring, the Indian Foreign Ministry informed us that New Delhi had become an intermediary for sending messages on the subject of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. However, it did not follow from his statement that it was an indirect dialogue between Moscow and Kiev.
"We are a country that has had the opportunity to speak very frankly and directly with the Russians on this issue [Ukraine], on various aspects of it. You know that other [countries] have used us to send messages," Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar.