India backs dialogue as Abu Dhabi talks open, reaching out to Kyiv on the eve

While the US-mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine got under way in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, India was already working for peace through diplomacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday, a day before the trilateral talks involving Russia, the US and Ukraine. In the call, he conveyed India’s readiness to contribute to all efforts aimed at a peaceful resolution of the conflict, according to the government.

The outreach fits a position New Delhi has held consistently: the conflict must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. Modi has made the same point directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin. That candour with both sides, backed by working relationships in Moscow and Kyiv, gives India standing that few countries have.

Zelenskyy also publicly asked India to take a larger role, saying India is ready to mediate in establishing food corridors to ease the disruption to global grain supplies. The Indian statement did not mention food corridors, so that point rests on Zelenskyy’s account.

According to a government statement, Modi conveyed India’s readiness to contribute to all efforts aimed at a peaceful resolution of the conflict. The statement said Modi reiterated India’s consistent position that the conflict must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. The two leaders also discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation.

The Tribune reported that Modi has said, including directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin, that this is not an era of war.

What Ukraine is asking of India

Zelenskyy gave a fuller account on X. He said it was important for India to identify what steps it could take and what dialogue it could pursue with other leaders. He raised food security, saying India is ready to mediate in establishing food corridors after discussing Russia’s blocking of grain exports via the Black Sea.

That mediation offer comes from Zelenskyy’s post. The Indian statement, as reported, spoke only of contributing to peace efforts and did not mention food corridors or any mediation role. India and Ukraine agreed that officials would stay in touch.

The talks

The US told the parties it would bring together delegations on November 10-11 to discuss ending the war, post-war security agreements and de-escalation, Reuters reported, citing US envoy Steve Witkoff. The Kremlin said Putin aide Vladimir Medinsky remains its chief negotiator. The Tribune said the talks are expected to be the first direct engagement between the parties in months.

Why India’s position is delicate

India keeps close ties with both sides. Putin visited New Delhi in December 2025, his first visit to India since the Ukraine war, and Modi and Putin met twice in about two weeks in August and September, per Reuters. Reports at the time said India was balancing Russia and the US amid American pressure to stop buying Russian oil. A Modi-Zelenskyy call on the eve of talks lets India show engagement with Kyiv without stepping away from Moscow.

The talks run through Wednesday. Whether India’s offer on food corridors leads to anything will depend on Moscow and Kyiv. I found no reports of any Indian official attending the talks or a separate Indian statement on them, so those would be the first signs of a larger role.