On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shortly after his arrival in Tianjin, marking his first visit to China in over seven years.
PM Modi reaffirmed India’s dedication to providing all possible assistance for a peaceful resolution of the conflict and for initiatives aimed at the prompt restoration of peace.
“I thank President Zelenskyy for his phone call today. We exchanged perspectives on the ongoing conflict, its humanitarian implications, and the efforts to restore peace and stability. India fully supports all endeavors in this regard,” PM Modi stated in a post on X.
As per an official statement, Zelenskyy shared his insights on the recent developments in Ukraine during their discussion. PM Modi expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian leader for sharing his viewpoint and reiterated India’s steadfast position advocating for a peaceful resolution of the conflict, while also extending support for efforts aimed at the swift restoration of peace.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy mentioned that Ukraine reaffirmed its willingness to meet with the Russian leadership but pointed out that Moscow has not provided any “positive signal” in almost two weeks. He further accused Russia of executing “cynical strikes on civilian targets” that resulted in the deaths of numerous Ukrainians. He expressed appreciation to Modi for conveying condolences to the victims’ families.
Zelenskyy indicated that he and Modi aligned their positions in anticipation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, emphasizing that an immediate ceasefire is crucial for meaningful peace talks. “It is impossible to engage in meaningful discussions about peace while our cities and communities are under continuous attack,” he wrote, adding that India is ready to “send the appropriate signal to Russia and other leaders” during the summit.
The two leaders engaged in discussions regarding bilateral relations, with Zelenskyy highlighting the preparations for the exchange of visits and a convening of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission. He remarked on the unexploited potential within the partnership and conveyed his optimism about meeting Modi “in the near future.”
