India has decided not to participate in two key preparatory meetings in Canada for the upcoming second peace summit on Ukraine. The first was a gathering of National Security Advisers (NSAs) in Toronto last week, and the second is a conference of foreign ministers scheduled for October 30-31 in Montreal, focused on the return of prisoners and deported civilians. Canada is hosting both events, with Norway helping to co-organize the latter.
India’s decision not to participate was communicated to Ukraine well before the diplomatic tensions with Canada arose. Indian officials had indicated that engaging in these preparatory meetings would not be productive without Russia’s participation. This position aligns with India’s broader diplomatic approach to the Ukraine conflict, which emphasises the importance of engaging all relevant stakeholders, including Russia, in any dialogue aimed at a peaceful resolution.
Sources familiar with the situation have emphasised that India conveyed this viewpoint to Ukraine’s leadership months ago. According to one of the sources, “These meetings on Ukraine’s peace formula are discussing a plan for negotiations with Russia, but it will be difficult to take things forward when Russia itself isn’t at the table.” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly shared this stance with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting in August, stressing that a viable solution would require Russian involvement.
Impact of India-Canada Diplomatic Tensions
The diplomatic row between India and Canada has added a layer of complexity to India’s decision. Relations between the two nations have been strained since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian government agents of involvement in the killing of pro-Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year. The situation escalated this month when Canadian law enforcement named the Indian envoy in Ottawa and five other diplomats as “persons of interest” in their investigation.
As a result, it was unlikely that any senior Indian official, including the NSA, would have attended the Toronto meeting, given the current state of bilateral relations. Despite the speculation that the diplomatic fallout influenced India’s decision, sources emphasised that the choice to skip the meetings was made independently of the recent tensions.
India’s Continued Engagement with Ukraine
Although India has opted out of the Canadian meetings, diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Kyiv remains active. Recent weeks have seen multiple interactions between senior Indian and Ukrainian officials. On October 15, a representative from the Indian embassy in Kyiv participated in a meeting involving ambassadors from G20 countries and Ukrainian officials, including Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to President Zelensky. This gathering focused on advancing Ukraine’s proposed peace formula.
India’s ambassador to Ukraine, Ravi Shankar, also held discussions with Oleksandr Lytvynenko, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, on October 16. During this meeting, they discussed President Zelensky’s “victory plan,” which seeks a comprehensive and just peace. Shankar underscored India’s support for Ukraine’s aspirations for a fair resolution to the conflict.
Preparations for the Second Peace Summit on Ukraine
The events in Canada are part of a series of preparatory meetings being hosted globally in anticipation of the second peace summit on Ukraine, which is expected to take place in early November. While the venue has not yet been finalised, Austria has offered to host the summit. The first peace summit, held in Switzerland in June, saw India’s participation in several preparatory meetings, either at the level of the NSA or deputy NSA. Pavan Kapoor, former Secretary (West) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, represented the country at the summit, although India refrained from endorsing the joint communiqué.
Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff for Ukraine, has stated that a joint document containing the outcomes of these preparatory conferences will be available by early November. Despite India’s decision not to attend the Canadian meetings, contacts between Indian and Ukrainian officials are expected to continue as the summit approaches.
As the second peace summit draws near, India remains engaged in discussions with Ukraine, indicating a willingness to contribute to a peace formula that aligns with its principles of inclusive dialogue and just resolution.