The diplomatic showdown between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday is expected to cast a long shadow over India’s Raisina Dialogue later this month. The high-profile foreign policy forum, scheduled for March 17-19 in New Delhi, will host key global leaders, including Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, setting the stage for potentially fiery discussions.
Key Attendees and Diplomatic Tensions
The Raisina Dialogue, organized by India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), will also feature senior U.S. officials alongside several European ministers from Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Lithuania, and Estonia.
The chief guest, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, reaffirmed his country’s strong backing of Ukraine ahead of the summit. “New Zealand remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine as it defends itself in a war that Russia started,” Luxon stated on social media, emphasizing his country’s commitment to international law.
However, in India, reactions to Zelenskyy’s White House confrontation have been mixed. Prominent Indian diplomats criticized his handling of the situation, suggesting he escalated tensions unnecessarily.
- Kanwal Sibal, former Indian Ambassador to Russia, remarked that Zelenskyy “invited” Trump’s public rebuke by being “argumentative instead of tactfully steering the exchange.”
- Nirupama Menon Rao, former Indian Ambassador to the U.S., agreed, saying that Zelenskyy’s public criticism of Russia and Putin was unnecessary and may have worsened Ukraine’s diplomatic standing.
Implications for India’s Foreign Policy
The widening rift between Kyiv and Washington could give India more diplomatic flexibility. Analysts suggest that New Delhi may now face less pressure from the West to condemn Russia or join sanctions against Moscow.
Happymon Jacob, Director of the Council for Strategic and Defence Research, noted that Ukraine is in a difficult position, citing:
- Recent Russian battlefield gains,
- Declining U.S. support,
- Trump administration’s push for negotiations with Russia.
He suggested that Kyiv may be forced into a ceasefire deal without long-term security guarantees, which could shift the dynamics of the Raisina Dialogue discussions.
Lavrov’s Return to Raisina Dialogue
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who has frequently spoken at Raisina in the past, will be making a return after skipping the 2024 edition. His absence last year followed a heated exchange in 2023, where he criticized the event’s organizers for “not doing their homework” regarding Russia’s position on peace talks with Ukraine.
With both Ukraine and Russia represented at this year’s summit, along with a diverse group of global leaders, Raisina 2024 could become a major diplomatic battleground, reflecting the deepening global divisions over the Ukraine war.