New Delhi: The first in-person discussions between India and Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbour in Europe last year will take place when a Ukrainian minister arrives in India on Sunday.

India relies on Russia for its defence and oil imports and must delicately strike a balance between expanding its security cooperation with Western nations and remaining reliant on Russia for its military hardware.

New Delhi is in a difficult diplomatic situation because of its longstanding security ties with Russia; while it has called for an end to hostilities in Ukraine, it has declined to denounce the invasion.

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According to a statement from the Indian government, Emine Dzhaparova, the first deputy foreign minister of Ukraine, will "exchange views on the current situation in Ukraine" with a senior official from that country's foreign ministry.

According to a statement from the foreign ministry, India and Ukraine have "warm and friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation," and the visit will be an opportunity to "further mutual understanding and interests."

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There was no sign that Dzhaparova would meet with the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, or any of his cabinet members.

India has refrained from publicly condemning the invasion, but last year, Modi said to Russian President Vladimir Putin that now was "not the time for war," in remarks seen as a rebuke to Moscow.

India is also buying discounted Russian crude, defying pressure from the West to isolate Moscow. Instead, it has chosen to deepen trade ties with its longtime ally, which has the added advantage of containing inflation and saving the government money.

Dzhaparova will meet with media outlets and think tanks in New Delhi in an effort to increase support for Ukraine, according to a report in The Hindu newspaper on Saturday. According to the report, she was also likely to invite Modi to Kyiv.

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It is possible that Putin will travel to India in July for the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. This would be his first visit to Russia's steadfast ally since December 2021.