Dr. Veda Pratap Vaidik

Ever since the war between Russia and Ukraine erupted, I have been writing consistently that India can be the best and effective mediator in this matter.  The reason being we have a warm relation with all the three countries- America, Russia and Ukraine. I am glad that Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to US President Joe Biden and persuaded him to speak to Vladimir Putin directly and end this war.

It would have been better if Modi himself had played the role of a mediator. He can still do that. Such efforts were done by the Presidents and Prime Ministers of France, Germany and Britain. These leaders have certain limitations, thanks to their US and NATO connections.  Above all they have their vested. These countries are heavily dependent on Russia’s oil and gas. India has no such compulsions. India definitely buys weapons from Russia, but Russia knows it well that if India desires, it can procure from any other country.

When Russia started selling oil to India much cheaper, America had expressed their displeasure.  A senior US official, while in India a few days back, cautioned against buying crude oil from Russia and warned of serious repercussions.  Relating to Ukraine conflict US President Biden had said recently that India was a bit hesitant in opposing Russia. But America knows that India’s representative clearly stated many times in the United Nations that the war should stop immediately and the sovereignty and independence of any nation should not be infringed or threatened. India has also demanded an inquiry into the genocide in the Ukrainian city of Bucha.  This issue also came up in the dialogue between Biden and Modi.  Modi had also persuaded Putin to speak directly to Ukraine President Zelensky. India had already sent food grains and medicines to Ukraine and has also announced to send more help as and when required. India’s Defense and Foreign Ministers are currently communicating with their counterparts in the US.

 India has imported good quantity of oil from Russia in the last one month, much more than we bought in the last one year from that country.  India is getting crude oil at a much cheaper price.  How can America and European nations dare to criticize India in the Import of oil from Russia, when the European countries are continuing their oil import from that country unabated. In the one- to- one talk between Modi and Biden, fruitful discussions were held on many other dimensions of India-US cooperation.  US assured its support in countering challenges from China. This was an unconditional guarantee from the US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin to our Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.  If India’s foreign policy had exhibited a bit more pro-activeness and little more zeal, we would have been elevated to a unique and much superior pedestal in International politics.

*The author is the President of the Indian Council of Foreign Policy

*Dr. Vaidik is a widely travelled scholar-journalist. He has visited more than 80 countries on diplomatic and educationalmissions. Dr. Vaidik has won more than a dozen National and International awards for academic and journalistic excellence. He has been a member of several Advisory Committees of Government of India.