PM Modi meets President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reiterates support for ‘peaceful resolution’ of Russia-Ukraine conflict

“I am grateful for the clear support of our sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.

Briefing the media about the meeting, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri cited Mahatma Gandhi’s statement that “there is no path to peace, peace is the path”, and said there needs to be an agreement on that. He said the two sides are not yet at a stage where the second peace summit can be discussed, and a lot of work needs to be done.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during their meeting in New York. (Reuters)

Modi met Zelenskyy in New York on the sidelines of the UN Summit of the Future, before wrapping up his three-day visit to the US. This approach is a far cry from Zelenskyy’s public criticism of Modi’s visit to Moscow in July, when the Prime Minister met Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Following his meeting with Zelenskyy, Modi posted on X, “Met President @ZelenskyyUa in New York. We are committed to implementing the outcomes of my visit to Ukraine last month to strengthen bilateral relations. Reiterated India’s support for early resolution of the conflict in Ukraine and restoration of peace and stability.”

He reiterated “India’s clear, consistent and constructive approach in favour of a peaceful resolution of the conflict through diplomacy and dialogue as well as engagement between all stakeholders”, according to a statement released by the External Affairs Ministry.

The Prime Minister also conveyed that India remains open to providing “all support within its means to facilitate a lasting and peaceful resolution of the conflict”.

Vikram Misri said the meeting, requested by the Ukrainian side, “accordingly took place”.

“Our voice in support of peace and path through dialogue and diplomacy is not new. It’s natural for us to assume this role. I think the Prime Minister’s meeting with President Zelenskyy also reflects his own, in a sense, commitment to this effort because he is deeply concerned by this conflict, not just in terms of the human toll that it is taking — something that he has recognised — but also in terms of the toll that it is taking on the world at large, especially on countries in the Global South,” Misri said in response to a question on the meeting.

The Foreign Secretary said the Modi-Zelenskyy meeting gave an opportunity to again take stock of the recent developments. Modi had met the Ukrainian President in Kyiv last month, just weeks after he met President Putin in Moscow.