“India Holds a Unique Key to Peace in Ukraine”: US Scholar Terril Jones on New Delhi’s Potential Role as Mediator

Veteran journalist and professor Terril Jones believes India’s ability to engage both Moscow and Kyiv sets it apart from Washington, and says a Nobel-worthy opportunity may lie before Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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New Delhi, September 6 – As the Russia-Ukraine war drags on with little sign of resolution, an American scholar has suggested that the path to peace may not lie in Washington, Brussels, or even Moscow – but in New Delhi.

Terril Jones, a veteran journalist with four decades of experience and now a professor of international journalism, argued that India’s diplomatic positioning makes it uniquely capable of playing the role of mediator between Russia and Ukraine. Unlike the United States, which has struggled with strained conversations with Kyiv and an often unyielding Moscow, India continues to maintain dialogue with both sides.

“The United States can talk to Zelenskyy, although it has sometimes been acrimonious, and it can talk to Putin, but Putin can be very stubborn. Maybe nothing will come out of those talks,” Jones explained. “India, on the other hand, can speak to both and get the ear of both leaders in a way that other major countries can’t. When you have a large country that can play mediator, that may be the logical way forward.”

He went further, suggesting that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi were to step into that role, the outcome could be historic. “Wouldn’t it be rather amazing if Prime Minister Modi were the one who negotiated a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine? Imagine him being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for that,” Jones remarked.

The Trump Factor and the Alaska Summit

When asked about the much-discussed Alaska summit between the US and Russia, Jones said former US President Donald Trump had “overpromised” in his pursuit of peace. Trump, he noted, believed he could achieve breakthroughs through personal meetings with world leaders – an approach drawn from his career as a businessman.

“He thought that by sitting down face-to-face with Putin, he could get some sort of commitment. That works more in business than in politics, where the stakes are as high as an ongoing war,” Jones said. He compared Trump’s expectations to his earlier interactions with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, where three meetings produced little tangible progress.

“He’s not a politician or a diplomat. Traditional negotiations take years at lower levels before leaders meet to finalize results. Trump expected quick wins – but that’s not how diplomacy works,” Jones added.

He called the Alaska summit a “disappointment not just for Trump, but also for Americans who had hoped for progress.”

A Career in Global Journalism

Jones brings authority to his observations, having reported across the world for nearly 40 years. He spent 18 years overseas in Japan, China, and France, and worked extensively in the United States covering the UN in New York, the auto industry in Detroit, and technology in Silicon Valley. Today, he teaches international journalism, continuing to shape discussions on diplomacy, geopolitics, and media.

For him, India’s unique position in global diplomacy is clear: New Delhi enjoys trust in Moscow while simultaneously expanding ties with Kyiv and Washington. And that, he suggests, could one day allow India to play peacemaker in one of the most devastating conflicts of the 21st century.