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After the success of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Delhi, India has taken another calculated diplomatic step. India is now working on plans to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Delhi. In diplomatic circles, this is seen as an attempt to create balance in India’s foreign policy. It is believed that Zelensky’s visit to Delhi could take place in January 2026, although the dates of the visit have not yet been determined. According to a report in the Indian Express, India has been in contact with the Ukrainian president’s office for several weeks. This effort by India was underway even before President Putin’s visit to New Delhi. Indian and Ukrainian officials have been in talks for weeks, and New Delhi has been in contact with Zelensky’s office even before Putin’s visit to India. Zelensky’s visit will strengthen India’s efforts to maintain relations with both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war. India has been following this policy for many months. This is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Moscow and met Putin in July 2024, and visited Ukraine a month later in August. The timing and extent of Ukrainian President Zelensky’s proposed visit will depend on many factors. Most importantly, it will depend on how far US President Donald Trump’s peace plan progresses and what happens on the battlefield. Domestic politics in Ukraine, where Zelensky’s government is currently under pressure due to a major corruption scandal, could also affect the proposed visit. The special thing is that a Ukrainian president visited India only three times before: in 1992, 2002 and 2012. Europe watched Putin’s visit closely. Several European envoys urged India to use its influence to pressure Moscow to end the war. India has consistently maintained that dialogue and diplomacy is the only way forward. This time during President Putin’s visit to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated that India is not neutral; India is in favor of peace. India’s policy on the Ukraine war has been consistent for a long time. Since the beginning of the war between Ukraine and Russia in February 2022, India has been in contact with both Putin and Zelensky. Modi spoke to Zelensky on the phone at least eight times, and the two leaders met at least four times in different forums. During his visit to Ukraine in August 2024, Prime Minister Modi told Zelensky: “We have stayed away from war, but we are not neutral; we are in favor of peace. We have brought the message of peace from the land of Buddha and Gandhi.” The war between Ukraine and Russia, thousands of kilometers away from India, has had a direct impact on the Indian economy. America has imposed a 25 percent penalty tariff on India for buying crude oil from Russia. Share this story Tags