Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met on the sidelines of the ongoing G7 Summit in Italy, where they reviewed the bilateral relationship and exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, PM Modi conveyed that India continues to encourage peaceful conflict resolution through dialogue and diplomacy. The two leaders were seen sharing a hug during the meeting.
This interaction comes on the heels of Zelensky’s congratulatory message to PM Modi following his recent election victory, where the Ukrainian President expressed his hope to see India’s presence at a peace summit scheduled in Switzerland this weekend, focused on the Ukraine-Russia war.
Zelensky noted that the world recognizes the significance and weight of India’s role in global affairs. India has confirmed its participation in the upcoming peace talks in Switzerland, as PM Modi has been consistently pressing for resolving the Ukraine conflict diplomatically.
During a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in September 2022 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, PM Modi stated that “Today’s era is not of war” and urged the Russian leader to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The meeting between the Indian and Ukrainian leaders underscores India’s delicate balancing act, as it maintains ties with Russia and Ukraine while advocating for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
