Zelenskyy Eyes India as Pivotal in Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his eagerness to visit India, highlighting its potential role in global diplomatic efforts to end the conflict with Russia. His remarks followed an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their bilateral discussions.

Modi's visit to Ukraine marked a significant moment, being the first by an Indian prime minister since Ukraine's independence in 1991. This visit came six weeks after Modi's summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. During their meeting, Modi emphasised the importance of Ukraine and Russia engaging in dialogue to resolve the ongoing war.

India's Role in Diplomatic Efforts

Zelenskyy underscored the importance of India's involvement, stating, "I very much need your country on our side, not balancing between US and Russia." He also described Modi's visit as historic and expressed his desire to understand India better by visiting and interacting with its people.

During the bilateral talks, Modi reiterated India's stance on peace, urging both Ukraine and Russia to find ways to end the conflict without delay. Zelenskyy echoed this sentiment, saying, "When you begin a strategic partnership, and you begin some dialogue, you don't need to lose time."

Commitment to Peace and Sovereignty

Zelenskyy made it clear that Ukraine would not compromise on its territorial integrity or values. He stated, "We don’t change our territories on any propositions ... we don’t change our people to any propositions, our territories our values and our freedom and democracy to any propositions ... we will not change."

He also expressed his willingness to engage in peace summits proposed by Modi, saying, "We want him [Modi] very much to have peace summits, and of course we will be happy to work on it and of course, if he has his ideas, we will be happy to discuss it."

Reflecting on Modi's meeting with Putin, Zelenskyy commented on the differing stances towards peace. He said, "PM Modi wants peace more than Putin. The problem is Putin doesn’t want peace. I don’t know what they spoke during their meeting." He concluded his statement with a shrug of exasperation.

Zelenskyy emphasised the significance of understanding a country through its people. He remarked, "I think, to understand a country is to understand people also. It's better to be in your country because to find the key to your country and to your Prime Minister is to see your people."

He reiterated his readiness to visit India whenever the Indian government and Prime Minister Modi are prepared for his visit. Zelenskyy added, "That's why I'll be happy to come to India as soon as your government, Prime Minister Modi will be ready to see me."

Zelenskyy's comments reflect his hope that India can play a crucial role in diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war between Ukraine and Russia. His statements underscore the importance of strategic partnerships and dialogue in achieving peace.