In a historic visit to wartime Kyiv, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday, urging him to engage in peace talks with Russia to end the ongoing conflict. Modi’s visit marked the first time an Indian prime minister has traveled to Ukraine in modern history.
As the war launched by Russia in February 2022 continues to escalate, Modi emphasized the need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the crisis. “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 stated.
Modi offered India’s support in facilitating peace efforts, saying, “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.”
The meeting comes on the heels of Modi’s visit to Moscow last month, where he called for peace and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The timing of Modi’s visit to Kyiv raises questions about the potential for diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, particularly with the November presidential election looming in the United States, a key ally of Ukraine.
