Russian Prez Putin Praises PM Modi, Donald Trump For Efforts To End War With Ukraine

In his first official comment since United State's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the ongoing Ukraine war, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday expressed his "words of gratitude" for US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with a few other leaders for devoting a lot of time for the issue.

Putin's Gratitude To Trump, Modi

"First of all, I would like to start with words of gratitude to the president of the United States, Mr. Trump, for paying so much attention to the Ukraine settlement. All of us have lots on our plates, but many state leaders, including the Chairman of the People's Republic of China, the Prime Minister of India, the President of Brazil, and the South African Republic, devote a lot of time to this issue. We are thankful to them because it's all for the noble cause of stopping hostilities and preventing human casualties," Putin said at a press briefing.

Putin Lays Conditions For Ceasefire

However, the Russian President has agreed to the US' proposed peace deal with Ukraine but on the condition that it should have lasting peace in the region. "We agree with the proposal for a ceasefire to cease hostilities, but we proceed from the fact that this ceasefire should lead to an enduring peace, and should remove the root causes of this crisis," Putin stated.

"Would that mean that everybody there would leave? Should we release them after they have committed numerous crimes against civilians there, or will the Ukrainian leadership command them to surrender?" he questioned. "Would that allow Ukraine to continue a forced mobilisation, a supply of arms to Ukraine, so that the newly mobilised units can be trained, or will that not be done?"

Putin batted for further negotiations with US officials and possibly a call with US President Donald Trump. "The very idea of ending this conflict by peaceful means-we support that," he added.

Why Putin Praised Indian PM Modi

From day one, India never took a side in the war despite the West exerting constant pressure to take Ukraine's side. On numerous occasions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called for "peace" but refused to criticise Putin or Russia.

While the West was upset with India's neutral stand, India repeatedly said that it was not neutral in the war and that New Delhi was siding with peace.

Even during PM Modi's meeting with US President Donald Trump last month, the Indian Prime Minister said, "India is not neutral. India is siding with peace. I have already said to President Putin that this is not the era of war. I support the efforts taken by President Trump," the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi, on a few occasions, claimed that it "not an era of war but of dialogue and diplomacy". It has to be noted that the Indian PM has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on several occasions since the war broke out in February 2022.

Zelenskyy Slams Putin For Setting Conditions

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for setting conditions to a proposed ceasefire as "very manipulative."

"We now have all heard...Putin's very predictable, very manipulative words in response to the idea of a ceasefire," Zelenskyy stated. "We do not set conditions that complicate anything. Russia does that," Zelensky said. "As we have always said, the only one who will drag things out, the only one who will be unconstructive is Russia."

The Ukraine President claimed that Putin was "actually preparing a refusal" but he is "afraid to say directly to President Trump that he wants to continue this war."

He accused Putin of "framing the idea of a ceasefire with such preconditions that nothing will work out at all, or for as long as possible."

"Putin often does this - he doesn't say 'no' directly, but he does it in such a way that he practically only delays everything and makes normal solutions impossible. We think that this is all just another Russian manipulation," Zelenskyy added.