Why is India trying to broker a Russia-Ukraine Black Sea food corridor?

What the report says

India is being discussed as a possible broker for a Black Sea “food corridor” in the Russia-Ukraine war, according to Al Jazeera, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said New Delhi was ready to help mediate safe passage for grain and other exports. The report said the development came as Russia and Ukraine resumed U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi after a nine-month pause, and as India’s foreign minister also held a call with Russia’s Sergey Lavrov.

The article says India has floated ideas for weeks around shipping safety, grain exports and energy infrastructure, but has not published a formal plan. Ukrainian officials have described India’s proposal as broad because it links Black Sea shipping with energy strikes, while Russia has resisted partial ceasefires and pushed for a wider peace settlement. Analysts quoted by Al Jazeera said India’s approach reflects its relationships with both Moscow and Kyiv, though its neutrality is questioned in Ukraine because of New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil.

The piece says India has direct economic and security reasons to care. Black Sea disruption has affected grain and oilseed shipments to import-dependent countries and contributed to volatility in edible oil supplies, including India’s sunflower oil imports. The report also notes that Indian nationals have been killed or gone missing in Black Sea attacks on commercial vessels. A major obstacle, however, is practical enforcement: shipping security, insurance, and Russia’s cooperation would all be needed for any corridor to work. Al Jazeera also notes that a previous UN- and Turkiye-backed grain deal moved millions of tonnes of food before Russia withdrew from it.