New Delhi: In a wide-ranging interaction with American podcaster Lex Fridman, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that he is “not neutral” and holds a “clear stance” on the Russia-Ukraine war.
Modi emphasised India’s commitment to peace, stating that the country does not seek to wage war against nature or fuel conflicts among nations. “We stand for harmony and gladly embrace the role of peacemakers wherever possible,” he said.
Referring to his stance, the prime minister mentioned that he could directly tell Russian President Vladimir Putin that “this is not the time for war” while also advising the Ukrainian president that no matter how much global support he has, a true resolution cannot be achieved on the battlefield.
“The resolution will only come when both Ukraine and Russia come to the negotiating table,” PM Modi said, highlighting that Ukraine’s discussions solely with allies would be futile.
He noted that while finding peace was initially difficult, the current situation offers an opportunity for meaningful and productive talks between the two nations.
Global leaders have repeatedly acknowledged India’s potential to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine. As the war between the two nations has extended beyond three years, calls for diplomatic resolution continue to grow. On Sunday, the Kremlin said that Russia and the US have discussed the “next steps” of how to end the war in Ukraine.
In October last year, former UK Prime Minister David Cameron stressed that any mediation by India should uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence. “India certainly has credibility. It might be in a position to mediate, but this must be done in a way that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence,” Cameron had said.
Even Putin and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov have addressed how India could help in establishing a dialogue on Ukraine.
“If Ukraine is willing to continue negotiations, I am open to it. We respect our friends and partners who sincerely seek to resolve this conflict, particularly China, Brazil, and India,” Putin said at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in September 2024.
Peskov, highlighting “highly constructive, even friendly relations” between Modi and Putin, noted that the Indian PM could “take the lead in obtaining first-hand information from all parties involved in the conflict,” given his direct communication with Putin, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky, and the US.
“There has been immense suffering, including in the Global South,” Modi said in a three-hour-long podcast released Sunday. “The world has been grappling with a food, fuel, and fertilizer crisis. The international community must come together in the pursuit of peace.”
“I have always stood for peace. I am not neutral—I have a stance, and that stance is peace. That is what I strive for,” he said, clarifying his position.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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