WASHINGTON- On July 30, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell stated that he anticipates India will soon become more involved with Ukraine. His remarks came in response to a question during a Senate hearing regarding Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Moscow. “I believe we’ll soon hear news of India engaging more directly with Ukraine. I appreciate that effort, as I think India aims to play a responsible global role,” Campbell told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Western countries have imposed sanctions on Moscow following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. However, countries considered “friendly” to Russia, such as India and China, have continued their trade relations with Moscow. In July, Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, coinciding with a Russian missile attack on a hospital in Kyiv that resulted in 44 fatalities and drew widespread international condemnation. Reports from Indian media suggest that Modi is expected to visit Ukraine in August, marking his first visit to the country since Russia’s invasion in 2022.

When asked about Campbell’s comments, India’s embassy in Washington referred to a news briefing held in Tokyo on July 29 by Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. During the briefing, Jaishankar emphasized the need for increased efforts to encourage negotiations to end the Ukraine conflict, noting that India remains one of the few countries maintaining contact with both sides.

“We do believe we should be more active in that area,” External Affairs Minister Jaishankar stated, adding that Modi had met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in Italy before visiting Moscow. In response to a question about the possibility of Modi visiting Ukraine, Jaishankar commented, “I can reasonably expect there will be more contacts between us and Ukraine and between us and Russia as well.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Jaishankar in Japan on July 28, highlighting the importance of achieving a “just and enduring peace” for Ukraine. The State Department has expressed concerns about India’s relationship with Russia, particularly at a time when the U.S. seeks to strengthen ties with India as a potential counterbalance to a rising China.

New Delhi has resisted international pressure to distance itself from Moscow since the invasion, citing its long-standing ties with Russia and its economic interests.

Campbell expressed that he views India as “probably the most important relationship for the United States to get right,” given the large Indian diaspora and the desire of many Indians for stronger ties with the U.S. “One of the most challenging things to remember is that India is also a great power. It has its own beliefs and interests. While India may never be a formal ally or partner of the United States, it doesn’t mean we cannot have the strongest possible relationships as allied nations on the global stage,” Campbell said.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.