Prime Minister Modi and President Zelenskyy Discuss Path to Peace in Ukraine

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The discussion, which took place just one day before scheduled trilateral peace talks in Abu Dhabi, focused on the latest developments in the region and India's potential role in facilitating a peaceful resolution.

During the call, President Zelenskyy provided an update on the current state of the conflict, particularly regarding the impact of recent Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The Ukrainian leader urged India to take further steps to help secure a ceasefire, emphasizing the importance of ensuring global food and energy security.

Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India's consistent position that the conflict must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. He reiterated the nation's human-centric approach and expressed India's readiness to contribute to all efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful end to the hostilities. This conversation marked the first direct contact between the two leaders since they met on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France this past June.

The diplomatic outreach comes as India continues to engage with both sides of the conflict. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has been involved in these efforts, having recently held discussions with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. These diplomatic maneuvers coincide with India's ongoing attempts to mediate the establishment of safe corridors in the Black Sea for essential grain and energy exports.

President Zelenskyy highlighted the significance of these corridors, noting that the global economy and millions of people are suffering due to the obstruction of sea routes. He stated that Ukraine remains committed to a constructive approach and called for Russia to demonstrate a similar willingness to de-escalate the situation. While Ukraine has expressed hope for Indian mediation, it noted that Russia has not yet responded positively to proposals regarding Black Sea shipping and the protection of energy infrastructure.

The upcoming peace dialogue in Abu Dhabi is expected to involve representatives from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. In addition to the core trilateral sessions, the Ukrainian delegation is slated to conduct separate coordination meetings with allies from NATO and Europe, including Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, to further discuss the path forward.