India was never neutral in this war, on side of peace: PM to Ukraine’s Zelenskyy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday told Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy.

That ‘dialogue and diplomacy’ was the only solution to end the war, offering to help personally as a friend for peace mediation with Russia. “India was never neutral in this war, we are on the side of peace,” PM Modi emphatically said during a joint statement in Kyiv as part of a historic visit.

That defining statement came weeks after his headline-grabbing visit to Russia and a hug with President Vladimir Putin drew sharp reactions from the West and Zelenskyy himself. The Ukrainian President had called the meeting a “huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts.”

“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,” PM Modi said, urging Zelenskyy to sit down for talks with Russia.

“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.

The Ukrainian leader, who spoke first, had said in his remarks that “the matter of ending the war and a just peace are the priority for Ukraine”.

Earlier, a sombre PM Modi had met President Zelenskyy in Kyiv, with the two leaders shaking hands before PM Modi engulfed the Ukrainian President in a hug. As the duo toured the war-torn country’s Martyrologist Exposition, PM Modi’s hand remained firmly on Zelenskyy’s shoulder – a gesture of India’s solidarity with Ukraine.

PM Modi has extended an invitation to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit India. The announcement was made by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during a press briefing in Kyiv.

“Prime Minister Modi has invited President Zelenskyy to visit India. We expect that as per his convenience, President Zelenskyy will visit,” said Jaishankar.

Jaishankar described PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine as a “landmark” event, marking the first time an Indian Prime Minister has visited the country since its independence in 1991.

During his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, significant discussions took place focusing on defense, trade, and agriculture. The two countries are expected to release a joint statement soon following the talks.

Jaishankar highlighted that much of the conversation between PM Modi and President Zelenskyy centered on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. “Most of the time the PM and Zelenskyy spent on talks was on the conflict,” he noted, adding that PM Modi sought President Zelenskyy’s assessment of the ground situation in Ukraine.

The discussions revolved around the current military situation, potential pathways to peace, and possible resolutions to the conflict. “It was a very detailed, open, and constructive discussion,” Jaishankar stated, emphasising the comprehensive nature of the talks. He also mentioned that Ukraine expressed a desire for continued Indian involvement in any future peace summits.

In a gesture of solidarity, India handed over medical support equipment to Ukraine, amounting to a total weight of 22 tonnes. “Today, we handed over cubes containing medical support equipment to Ukraine,” Jaishankar said, highlighting India’s ongoing humanitarian support to the war-torn country.

The discussions also touched upon India’s energy trade with Russia, a topic of significant geopolitical interest. The Indian delegation took the opportunity to explain its position on the matter, which has been a point of international focus given the ongoing conflict and India’s balancing act in maintaining relations with both Ukraine and Russia.

Furthermore, Jaishankar described the talks as “very detailed, open, and constructive,” indicating a positive engagement between the two leaders.