In a major diplomatic victory for India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has secured an agreement from Russian President Vladimir Putin to discharge and repatriate all Indian nationals fighting for the Russian army in Ukraine. The breakthrough came during PM Modi's recent visit to Moscow, where he raised the issue at a private dinner with Putin.
Tragic Deaths and Forced Conscription
According to reports, at least four Indians have been killed in the ongoing war, while 10 have managed to return to India. Tragically, around 35-40 Indians are still believed to be stuck in Russia, with over 20 men allegedly forced into fighting Russia's war against Ukraine after being conned by agents into travelling to Russia under the pretext of high-paying jobs.
India's Diplomatic Efforts
India's Foreign Ministry has been actively pressing Russia for the release and return of these Indian recruits, who were tricked by unscrupulous agents. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar has described the issue as a "very deep concern" for India, and has been engaging with Russia for the past few months to find a resolution.
India has maintained that the recruitment of Indian nationals into the Russian army during a conflict situation is not in keeping with the India-Russia diplomatic partnership. New Delhi has demanded the early release and return of all such Indian nationals and has also asked for a halt to such recruitments in the future.
Economic Cooperation and Sanctions
PM Modi's visit to Russia has also yielded significant economic dividends for India. India has already benefited from steep discounts on Russian oil after the U.S. and its allies imposed sanctions on Russian crude. The two leaders discussed ways to further boost trade and investment, with the aim of reaching $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.
The war and subsequent Western sanctions have pushed Russia closer to India's regional rival, China. As Russia's economy weakens due to the war, it risks becoming overly dependent on China, which is a strategic concern for India. PM Modi's efforts to stop the war are partly driven by a desire to prevent Russia from falling into China's orbit.
Calls for Peace and Criticism from Ukraine
During his talks with Putin, PM Modi reiterated his stance that "Today's era is not an era of war" and urged the Russian leader to end the conflict as soon as possible. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized the Modi-Putin meeting, calling it a "devastating blow to peace efforts."
Crucial Timing and Implications
PM Modi's visit to Russia coincides with the NATO summit in Washington D.C., where the most powerful leaders of the world are gathered. Interestingly, all NATO members have imposed sanctions on Russia, while India maintains good relations with most of them. The timing of these events is crucial, and it remains to be seen how the West perceives the Modi-Putin meeting.
In a significant development, India and Russia are reportedly working on alternative money transfer systems to circumvent the Western sanctions that have removed most Russian banks from the global SWIFT payment system. Additionally, a major defense deal between the two countries is said to have been sealed, although the details are yet to be released.
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