NEW DELHI/ KYIV: PM Narendra Modi sought to take the sting out of the Western outrage over his visit to Russia last month as he expressed solidarity with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during their meeting in Kyiv, while also urging him to quickly sit with Russian president Putin and find a way out of the ongoing crisis. Modi called for “innovative solutions” that will have broad acceptance.
As expected, Modi didn’t propose any peace plan of his own, or endorse Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace formula, but he told the president that respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is paramount for India, while expressing readiness to work actively for peace. Greeting Zelenskyy with a hug, and with an arm around his shoulder, Modi also visited a memorial for children who lost their lives, as the president said in a post on X later, because of Russian aggression.
The visit to what is locally known as the Martyrologist exposition on children is significant as Modi had come under criticism, including from Zelenskyy himself, for embracing Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Moscow on a day Russia bombed a children’s hospital in Kyiv. “Prime Minister was deeply touched by the poignant exposition set up in memory of children who have lost their lives in the conflict. He expressed his sorrow at the tragic loss of young lives and as a mark of respect placed a toy in their memory,” said the Indian govt in a statement. In his opening remarks, Modi said the death of innocent children is totally unacceptable in a civilised society where people believe in humanity.
However, the visit also foregrounded the differences between the two sides on the issue of peace as Zelenskyy urged India to endorse the Swiss peace summit joint communique that Modi govt kept away from because Russia wasn’t invited to the summit. He said it can act as a basis for promoting peace through dialogue, diplomacy and international law.
Agencies reported Zelenskyy as saying, “I think India began to recognise that this is not just a conflict, this is the real war of one man and his name is Putin against a whole country whose name is Ukraine. You (India) have a big influence and you can stop Putin and halt his economy, and really put him in his place.” He added, “I very much need your country on our side, not balancing between US and Russia.”
Briefing reporters later, foreign minister S Jaishankar said for any peace process to be productive, it’s important to involve the other side too.
PM Modi took the train to Kyiv from Przemysl in Poland, close to its border with Ukraine, as other global leaders have ever since Ukraine’s airspace was closed to civilian flights. Modi became the first Indian premier to visit independent Ukraine, a fact that was repeatedly cited by his hosts during his packed eight-hour trip. “I am very happy with PM Modi’s historic visit. This is a good first step,” Zelenskyy said.
Modi told the Ukrainian president that while truth is the first casualty of war, his heart had been filled with grief because of the violence against children and India will continue to work actively for peace. “Even personally, I’d be ready as a friend to make any contribution for peace. Hum jald se jald shanti ka suraj ugta hua dekhna chahte hain (we want to see the sun of peace rising as soon as possible),” said Modi, adding he had come to Ukraine with the message of peace on behalf of 140 crore Indians, and also the Global South which bore the brunt of war.
The PM also told Zelenskyy India has had a two-pronged approach to war – one with humanitarian perspective under which it would continue to provide assistance to Ukraine and the other of staying away, with conviction, from war. “But it doesn’t mean that we are neutral. We have taken the side of peace, as the land of Buddha and Gandhi,” said Modi.
The leaders appreciated various efforts to ensure global food security, including Ukrainian humanitarian grain initiative. According to the joint statement, importance of uninterrupted and unhindered supply of agricultural products to global markets, especially in Asia and Africa, was emphasised. Extending an official invitation to Zelenskyy to visit India, Modi also said the fact that the relationship continued to develop even in the middle of adverse circumstances was a sign of maturity in ties.
Speaking to media, Zelenskyy referred to Modi’s visit to Russia, saying Putin’s decision to attack a hospital at that time showed his lack of respect for India.
Ukraine also raised the issue of India’s growing energy imports from Russia but, as Jaishankar said later, the Indian side pointed to the restricted and violent nature of the global crude market. He said India didn’t have a political strategy but an oil strategy to buy oil. “We are a big oil importer because we don’t have oil. There is a market strategy and so the figures will go up and down. We explained to Ukraine the market scenario. The fact that many producers have been sanctioned makes the market very tight,” he said.
As expected, Modi didn’t propose any peace plan of his own, or endorse Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace formula, but he told the president that respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is paramount for India, while expressing readiness to work actively for peace. Greeting Zelenskyy with a hug, and with an arm around his shoulder, Modi also visited a memorial for children who lost their lives, as the president said in a post on X later, because of Russian aggression.
The visit to what is locally known as the Martyrologist exposition on children is significant as Modi had come under criticism, including from Zelenskyy himself, for embracing Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Moscow on a day Russia bombed a children’s hospital in Kyiv. “Prime Minister was deeply touched by the poignant exposition set up in memory of children who have lost their lives in the conflict. He expressed his sorrow at the tragic loss of young lives and as a mark of respect placed a toy in their memory,” said the Indian govt in a statement. In his opening remarks, Modi said the death of innocent children is totally unacceptable in a civilised society where people believe in humanity.
However, the visit also foregrounded the differences between the two sides on the issue of peace as Zelenskyy urged India to endorse the Swiss peace summit joint communique that Modi govt kept away from because Russia wasn’t invited to the summit. He said it can act as a basis for promoting peace through dialogue, diplomacy and international law.
Agencies reported Zelenskyy as saying, “I think India began to recognise that this is not just a conflict, this is the real war of one man and his name is Putin against a whole country whose name is Ukraine. You (India) have a big influence and you can stop Putin and halt his economy, and really put him in his place.” He added, “I very much need your country on our side, not balancing between US and Russia.”
Briefing reporters later, foreign minister S Jaishankar said for any peace process to be productive, it’s important to involve the other side too.
PM Modi took the train to Kyiv from Przemysl in Poland, close to its border with Ukraine, as other global leaders have ever since Ukraine’s airspace was closed to civilian flights. Modi became the first Indian premier to visit independent Ukraine, a fact that was repeatedly cited by his hosts during his packed eight-hour trip. “I am very happy with PM Modi’s historic visit. This is a good first step,” Zelenskyy said.
Modi told the Ukrainian president that while truth is the first casualty of war, his heart had been filled with grief because of the violence against children and India will continue to work actively for peace. “Even personally, I’d be ready as a friend to make any contribution for peace. Hum jald se jald shanti ka suraj ugta hua dekhna chahte hain (we want to see the sun of peace rising as soon as possible),” said Modi, adding he had come to Ukraine with the message of peace on behalf of 140 crore Indians, and also the Global South which bore the brunt of war.
The PM also told Zelenskyy India has had a two-pronged approach to war – one with humanitarian perspective under which it would continue to provide assistance to Ukraine and the other of staying away, with conviction, from war. “But it doesn’t mean that we are neutral. We have taken the side of peace, as the land of Buddha and Gandhi,” said Modi.
The leaders appreciated various efforts to ensure global food security, including Ukrainian humanitarian grain initiative. According to the joint statement, importance of uninterrupted and unhindered supply of agricultural products to global markets, especially in Asia and Africa, was emphasised. Extending an official invitation to Zelenskyy to visit India, Modi also said the fact that the relationship continued to develop even in the middle of adverse circumstances was a sign of maturity in ties.
Speaking to media, Zelenskyy referred to Modi’s visit to Russia, saying Putin’s decision to attack a hospital at that time showed his lack of respect for India.
Ukraine also raised the issue of India’s growing energy imports from Russia but, as Jaishankar said later, the Indian side pointed to the restricted and violent nature of the global crude market. He said India didn’t have a political strategy but an oil strategy to buy oil. “We are a big oil importer because we don’t have oil. There is a market strategy and so the figures will go up and down. We explained to Ukraine the market scenario. The fact that many producers have been sanctioned makes the market very tight,” he said.