New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s support for an early resolution to the war in Ukraine during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Monday in New York — their third in as many months.
The one-on-one after Modi’s address to the UN Summit of the Future was a result of a request by the Ukrainian side, said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in a press briefing Monday.
“The Prime Minister recalled his visit to Kyiv, their discussions on all matters, the bilateral issues as well as issues surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict. President Zelenskyy was very appreciative of India’s attention to these issues… He thanked the Prime Minister for the efforts he was making for peace and a pathway to finding a way out of this conflict,” said Misri.
The foreign secretary said India’s intent was to eventually move the conversation between Russia and Ukraine towards specific proposals for peace, adding that multiple talks were in progress regarding this goal.
“The discussions that are ongoing today are focused on the specifics. There are discussions going on in multiple forums around the world, various processes that are underway, various formats that we have seen. We have been involved in some of those where the idea has been to try and see if a consensus can develop,” Misri said.
Misri also informed that New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil had not come up during discussions between the leaders. In the past, Kyiv has repeatedly urged India to reduce its imports as this was helping Moscow fund the war, it said.
Zelenskyy ‘grateful for clear support to our sovereignty, territorial integrity’
Zelenskyy said the main focus of the conversation was to “enhance interaction on international platforms, particularly at the UN and G20, as well as implementing the Peace Formula and preparing for the second Peace Summit”.
The first such conference where Ukraine put forward its proposals was the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland earlier this year. The Ukrainian president also said the discussion was substantive on the opportunities available, adding, “I am grateful for the clear support to our sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
While underscoring India’s stance on the “restoration of peace and stability”, Modi also said India was committed to implementing the outcomes of his visit to Ukraine last month to strengthen bilateral relations.
Modi visited Kyiv for a bilateral meeting in August, the first by an Indian Prime Minister. On his return, he called Russian President Vladimir Putin and US’s Joe Biden.
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met Putin in Russia last week, and briefed him of Modi’s visit to Ukraine. At this meeting, the Russian president invited Modi for a bilateral chat during the BRICS Leaders’ Summit, which is scheduled to take place in Russia’s Kazan from 22-24 October.
Zelenskyy and Modi also discussed the next intergovernmental commission between the two countries — headed by its two foreign ministers.
Zelenskyy’s ‘victory plan’
The Ukrainian President arrived in the US with a “plan”, according to reports. He is expected to present this “victory plan” to Biden, Vice-President Kamala Harris and former US President Donald Trump.
Kyiv in recent weeks has captured large swathes of Russian territory in its Kursk offensive, which began in the first week of August. However, it has also faced increasing Russian pressure in the east, which has seen Moscow take several villages and strengthen its hold on the region.
Ukraine’s efforts for peace have been around its proposal at the Global Peace Summit, which was held earlier this year in Switzerland. The summit witnessed many countries sign in support of the plan, but India, which attended the conclave, refused to put its stamp on the final document.
The Indian foreign secretary also mentioned the Switzerland peace summit and its proposals, as well as a possibility of a second summit, was discussed between Zelenskyy and Modi in New York.
But he said “a lot of work needs to be done” before the second proposed peace summit could be discussed in greater detail.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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