In August 2024, Prime Minister Modi’s official visit to Kyiv went off without any significant incidents. He had held high-level talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but now, as Modi and most of his delegation had already returned to India, several of the administration’s public relations staff were left behind, wrapping up the last details in their hotel suite.
“We’ve signed agreements with Ukraine in agriculture, infrastructure, and pharmaceuticals,” one staff member said, glancing at the documents spread across the table.
“Sure, but those deals are just window dressing,” another replied. “The real goal was showing the world we’re not hostile to Ukraine. It’s all about the optics.”
As the team mulled over their work, a knock interrupted them. The assistant manager of the hotel entered, holding a folder. “Here’s the final bill, gentlemen. We’ll need payment in U.S. dollars.”
The PR staff began reviewing the list. There were charges for all sorts of expenses—liquor surcharges, cover charges, room extension fees, fees for special purchases, repairs, bathroom cleaning, door replacements, and even a strip dancer performance. Taxi fares, souvenirs, and more were all itemized.
Sighing, the cashier wrote out a check, issued by the Indian government, and handed it to the assistant manager, who smiled politely before excusing himself.
A few minutes later, the phone rang. One of the security officers stationed with the team answered and frowned. “There’s an issue. One of our security guys missed his flight. He’s at a bar near the airport, drunk, and refusing to pay his tab. We need to go pick him up.”
They headed to the bar, located near the Kyiv airport. Ushered into the employee lounge, the scene was rough—cigarette butts overflowed from a drum, and dresses belonging to the hostesses were draped across the walls. A familiar face sat slumped in a chair, the delinquent security officer who had missed his flight.
The man looked up as the PR staff walked in, his face lighting up in a tipsy grin. “Hey, how’re ya doin’? Come sit down, have a drink with me.”
“You’re not drunk, huh?” one of the PR staff members said, raising an eyebrow. “Time to go. Embassy’s not going to be happy.”
“Bah, the embassy folks? They’re always yammering. Why are we even bothering with Ukraine, huh? What good does it do to be friends with them? We get cheap oil from Russia, don’t we? That’s what really matters!”
“Just stand up, man. Let’s go.”
“You think India’s non-aligned? We’re not gonna stand up to Russia, are we? Not when we’re getting those discounts on oil,” the officer rambled, still seated.
The PR staffer placed a firm hand on the officer’s shoulder, eyes narrowing. “Enough. We’re leaving.”
For a moment, the two locked eyes in silence. Then, the security officer laughed. “Alright, alright, we’re best friends. No hard feelings.”
“That’s fine,” the PR member said with a sigh.
“So, you’re covering my tab tonight, right?”
All names of people and organizations appearing in this story are pseudonyms.
India at the Crossroads: Redefining Neutrality as Global Leadership
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