Aid and Comfort to Ukraine by India

"We say it very loudly and clearly that we support the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. It's our highest priority."

"...Problems cannot be resolved on the battlefield."

"The only way of resolving problems is through dialogue and diplomacy. It must be done without losing any time."

"We chose to stay away from war. That doesn't mean we are neutral. We are on the side of peace."

"Personally, as a friend [to Ukraine], if there is any role that I can play, I would very much like to play that role toward peace."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Friday.   Efrem Lukatsky / AP

And it was as a 'friend' that Mr. Modi made an unprecedented visit to Ukraine to meet with embattled President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to offer, as a friend, to do what he could to intercede between Kyiv and Moscow in an effort to bring the two countries together to explore ways in which each might agree to the other's concessionary guidelines to reach a peace agreement. Which, on the evidence appears to be a shore too far. Since Moscow's demands are such that Kyiv in agreeing, would simply surrender to its aggressor's territorial grab. And in turn Kyiv's demands would never be met by Russia; complete military withdrawal and full restitution.

 

In any event, Mr. Modi's appearance in Ukraine and his friendly overtures to its president could be regarded as a gentle and reassuring hug from an important world leader. Somewhat leavened by the fact that India is inadvertently helping the war to continue by accepting Russian oil and gas, at no doubt a discounted price for a nation whose burgeoning industries are thirsty for energy sources. Mr. Modi has also met with Vladimir Putin, with whom he recounts a conversation urging the Russian President to seek peace with the country he is slowly destroying.

 

And then there are the realities of this prolonged war which the Kremlin believed would last no longer than, say a month, before the smaller, weaker, less militant and less well-equipped-militarily nation would fold before its neighbour's onslaught. With the considerable assistance of its democratic Western support along with that of its near neighbours supplying vital equipment to survive and to meet the onslaught with a counteroffensive, Ukraine is giving almost as good as it's getting.

 

This satellite photo from Planet Labs PBC shows a fire at an oil depot earlier hit by a Ukrainian drone attack near Proletarsk, August 19, 2024    Planet Labs PBC/AP

Strikes in Russia's Kursk region are continuing, with the Ukraine military making use of high-precision glide bombs provided courtesy of the United States with their assent to carry out strikes in the region. The result being the military's having recaptured some territory in Kharkiv, where in the spring Russia launched an offensive. A video was issued Thursday by Lt. Gen. Mykola Oleschuk, Commander of the Ukraine Air Force, showing a Russian platoon base hit in the Kursk region, which led to equipment destruction by the GBU-30 bombs.

Forces of the Ukraine 3rd Separate Assault Brigade advanced some two square kilometres in the Kharkiv region. New momentum has been gained by Ukraine's forces this month, once the delayed deliveries of American weaponry were finally released. A shock offensive that began August 6 was enabled into western Kursk region, intensifying a drone war against military and fuel targets, sparking blazes this week, deep into Russian territory.

A Russian airbase in the Volgograd region was struck by a Ukrainian drone attack causing significant damage to an airfield housing glide bombs Moscow used in its war on Ukraine, At the port of Kavkaz in Russia's Krasnodar region saw a cargo ferry come under attack. Ukraine intends to continue its momentum, initially hoping to distract Russia from its Donetsk region slow but steady advance, but despite Moscow's perturbation over Ukraine's capture of towns and villages in Kursk and the mass evacuation of its citizens, no Russian platoons have been re-directed to Kursk.

Prime Minister Modi and President Zelenskyy signed co-operation agreements in agriculture, medicine and culture, releasing a joint statement that gave notice both countries agree on the necessity of close dialogue to "ensure a comprehensive, just and lasting peace". 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hugs Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Friday.  AP