Expecting an expedited process to negotiations aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war, Kyiv looks up to India with hope. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s close aide says his country considers India among the countries that can help in the ongoing conflict
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US President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025. Source: AFP.
With Donald Trump becoming the 47th US president, and Israel and Hamas having entered a ceasefire agreement, focus has shifted to the other big theatre of war — Europe. The Russia-Ukraine war is nearing its third anniversary, but without any formal talks to end the military conflict. Trump made ending the war one of his campaign promises. Now, Ukraine says that it expects India and a few other countries to play a role in bringing a negotiated end to the war.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s close aide and Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, has told Indian journalists that with its global standing India can “play a big role” in resolving the military conflict. Though a lot depends on the Trump administration that was sworn in in the US on Monday.
Ukraine pins hope on Trump
Yermak said, “We are looking very positively at the role of the United States and President Trump for ending this war. We are looking at starting consultations with the new US administration.”
“We will not lose time and immediately start working towards it (after Trump’s inauguration),” he said.
Ukraine is pushing for an early start of talks with the newly sworn-in Donald Trump administration in the United States to bring peace in the country and the rest of Europe. Kyiv also said that India was in a position to play a big role in bringing lasting peace in the conflict-struck nation.
On February 24, Russia-Ukraine will complete three years. Trump, at a campaign rally in June last year, said, “Before I even arrive at the Oval Office, shortly after we win the presidency, I will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine settled.”
However, such a 24-hour promise to end the Russia-Ukraine war was never a real possibility but it did generate hope of speedier negotiations to end the conflict.
India can play ‘a big role’
On what Ukraine hopes from India, Yermak said Kyiv was looking at non-West countries like India and South Africa – with global influence — to play a role in that.
“India is one of the biggest democracies in the world, and not just regional, but a world leader, and its position can play a big role. During the last two years, we have held a lot of m