Newsman: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered “as a friend” to help bring peace to Ukraine in a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a brief visit on Friday. Narendra Modi urged President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to sit down for talks with Russia to the war .President Zelenskiy said that “the matter of ending the war and a just peace are the priority for Ukraine”.
Narendra Modi visited Moscow last month where he called for peace and embraced Russian President Vladimir Putin, angering Ukraine, where a Russian missile strike hit a children’s hospital on the same day.
“The road to resolution can only be found through dialogue and diplomacy. And we should move in that direction without wasting any time. Both sides should sit together to find a way out of this crisis,” Modi said in Kyiv.
“I want to assure you that India is ready to play an active role in any efforts towards peace. If I can play any role in this personally, I will do that, I want to assure you as a friend,” he said.
President Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Modi discussed Ukraine’s peace formula, which prioritizes territorial integrity and the withdrawal of Russian troops, according to the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“We say it very loudly and clearly that we support the respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Modi said through a translator during his meeting with Zelenskyy. “It’s our highest priority.”or an Indian role in peace mediation.
Modi added that during his visit to Russia last month, he told Russian President Vladimir Putin “that problems cannot be resolved on the battlefield.”
“The only way of resolving problems is through dialogue and diplomacy,” he said, adding that “it must be done without losing any time.”
Speaking later on Friday in his regular address to the nation after the visit had ended, Zelenskiy said it is “important to us that India remains committed to international law and supports our sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
He also said he appreciated that Modi had begun the visit by paying tribute to the children killed in the July hospital strike.
President Zelenskyy called Prime minister Modi’s visit friendly and symbolic, because it came the day before Ukraine’s Independence Day.
“We chose to stay away from war. That doesn’t mean we are neutral,” said the Indian leader.
“We are on the side of peace,” Modi added. “Personally, as a friend, if there is any role that I can play, I would very much like to play that role toward peace.”
Modi and Zelenskyy spent two and a half hours behind closed doors before they signed cooperation agreements in the spheres of agriculture, medicine, and culture. The joint statement said both countries agreed on the importance of closer dialogue to “ensure a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace.”
Ukrainian media said Modi also met with representatives of the Indian diaspora who gathered around him and cheered “Modi, Modi, Modi.” He also paid tribute at the Mahatma Gandhi Monument in Kyiv.
Mr Modi is also visiting Poland on this trip – the first Indian PM to visit the country in 45 years. He also became the first Indian prime minister to visit Austria in 41 years in July.
The Indian government has also revived trade deal negotiations with Europe. It has signed a trade and investment deal with the European Free Trade Association, which is the intergovernmental organisation of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Before arriving in Ukraine, Modi urged for diplomatic efforts to end the war during a visit to Poland on Thursday, pledging India’s support and saying that no conflict can be solved on a battlefield.
Modi’s visit is the first by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine since the two countries established diplomatic relations over 30 years ago.
