Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized his willingness to support peace efforts in Ukraine during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The two leaders discussed Ukraine’s peace formula, focusing on territorial integrity and the withdrawal of Russian troops. Modi expressed India’s commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity as a top priority. In a video published on the Ukrainian president’s Telegram, Modi stated that problems should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy rather than on the battlefield, which he conveyed to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a previous visit.
Zelenskyy welcomed Modi’s visit as a friendly gesture, coinciding with Ukraine’s Independence Day. The visit aimed to strengthen economic ties, defense cooperation, and collaboration in science and technology between India and Ukraine. The leaders paid their respects at a memorial for Ukrainian children killed during the conflict, highlighting the devastating impact of war on young lives. Modi expressed condolences to the families of the victims and emphasized the need for peace.
During his visit, Modi met with representatives of the Indian diaspora and visited the Mahatma Gandhi Monument in Kyiv. The chief of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, described Modi’s visit as historic and hoped that India could play a role in achieving a just peace in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Modi had previously urged diplomatic solutions to end the war while in Poland, stating that conflicts cannot be resolved through military means.
Modi’s visit to Ukraine marked the first by an Indian prime minister since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries over 30 years ago. The visit comes after criticism of Modi’s previous meeting with Putin in Moscow, where Zelenskyy expressed disappointment over the timing amid Russian attacks on Ukraine. Despite India’s reluctance to denounce Russia’s invasion, Modi’s visit signifies a potential shift towards a more neutral stance and a commitment to supporting peaceful resolutions through dialogue and diplomacy.
