PM Modi, Ukraine President Zelensky To Meet In Hiroshima, First Since Russian Invasion

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky are likely to meet in Hiroshima, Japan on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.

This will be the first in-person interaction between the two leaders since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began last year.

During their discussions, PM Modi and Zelensky are expected to address the current situation in Ukraine and explore diplomatic solutions to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the region.

In April, Ukraine's deputy foreign minister Emine Dzhaparova visited New Delhi where she urged India to support Ukraine's peace plan.

India on several occasions has called for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine in order to restore peace and stability in the Eastern European region.

PM Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin once after the war in Ukraine erupted.

On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Samarkand, PM Modi urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end war, saying it is not an era of war, a statement which resonated with global leaders.

India has sought an end to hostilities and urged all parties to take concrete steps to end the war in Ukraine.

PM Modi will be in Hiroshima from May 19 to 21 for the G7 summit. He will hold a bilateral meeting with Japan Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.

PM Modi will also hold bilateral meetings with South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the sidelines of the G7 summit.

"I will leave for Hiroshima, Japan to attend the G7 Summit under the Japanese Presidency at the invitation of Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan. It will be a pleasure to meet Prime Minister Kishida again after his recent visit to India for the India - Japan Summit. My presence in this G7 Summit is particularly meaningful as India holds the G20 Presidency this year," PM Modi tweeted this morning.

The Group of Seven (G7) is an intergovernmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States meeting in Hiroshima.

However, this year, the leaders of Australia, Brazil, Comoros, Cook Islands, India, Indonesia, South Korea and Vietnam are invited as G7 aims to reach out to developing countries in the so-called Global South.