As Vladimir Putin wrapped up his two-day visit to India on December 5, New Delhi quietly turned its attention to the next phase in a delicate diplomatic balancing act: now a trip by Volodymyr Zelenskyy — President of Ukraine — is reportedly under discussion for early 2026.
A Zelenskyy visit could materialize as soon as January 2026, people familiar with the discussions told the media.
Such a visit would reaffirm India’s effort to stay engaged with both parties to the Russia–Ukraine war, following the same calibrated approach adopted last year.
Diplomatic contacts between Indian and Ukrainian officials have reportedly been underway for weeks — in fact, New Delhi had reached out to Zelenskyy’s office even before Putin arrived in India.
That being said, the final decision on timing and scope of the visit seems to hinge on multiple evolving factors.
These include how the latest peace initiatives — including proposals by former U.S. President Donald Trump — proceed, the state of affairs on the ground in Ukraine, and even domestic political developments in Kyiv, which is currently navigating a corruption scandal.
Observers note that such a visit would deepen India–Ukraine ties at a time when India is also reinforcing its longstanding strategic partnership with Russia.
After all, last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made back-to-back trips — first to Moscow and then to Kyiv — signaling India’s commitment to a diplomatically balanced and peace-oriented foreign policy.
For now, sources say Delhi is connecting with new contacts in Zelenskyy’s office — after a recent shake-up there — to nail down mutually convenient dates.
If all goes as planned, the Ukrainian President could land in New Delhi in the early months of 2026.
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