Journalism of Courage
In their first in-person meeting since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that India will do “whatever is possible” to find a solution to the conflict.
Meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Modi told Zelenskyy: “Over the past one-and-a-half years, we have spoken on the phone but… after a long time, we have an opportunity to meet. The war in Ukraine is a very big issue for the whole world. It has had many different impacts on the whole world… But I don’t see this as a political or economic issue, for me this is an issue of humanity, an issue of human values.”
“You know more than any of us what is the suffering of war… when our students came back from Ukraine last year, the description of the circumstances they gave then, I could understand the pain felt by you and Ukrainian citizens,” Modi said.
“I wish to assure you that India and I, in my personal capacity, will do whatever is possible to find a solution to this (conflict),” he said.
Zelenskyy later tweeted: “Had a meeting with Prime Minister of India… in Japan. I briefed the interlocutor in detail on the Ukrainian peace formula initiative and invited India to join its implementation. I spoke about Ukraine’s needs in humanitarian demining and mobile hospitals. I thank India for supporting our country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, in particular, at the platforms of international organisations, and for providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine.”
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Besides Modi, the Indian delegation at the talks included External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said Modi appreciated Ukraine’s cooperation in the safe evacuation of Indian students and welcomed the decision by Ukrainian institutions to hold exams in India for the students. “PM said that India will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine. President Zelenskyy briefed PM on the current situation in Ukraine. Both sides agreed to remain in touch,” it said.
While Modi and Zelenskyy have spoken to each other four times since February last year, when Russia invaded Ukraine, this was their first in-person meeting since November 2021, on the sidelines of the COP-26 at Glasgow.
In their last phone conversation in December last year, Zelenskyy had sought India’s support for his 10-point “peace formula”, which calls for withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, release of prisoners, restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and guarantees on nuclear safety, food and energy security.
Since February last year, New Delhi has provided at least 12 consignments, totalling 99.3 tonnes, of humanitarian assistance, to Ukraine and neighbouring countries. These include medicines, blankets, tents, tarpaulin and medical equipment.
The Modi-Zelenskyy meeting took place over a month after Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova visited India.
India has sought to maintain a diplomatic balancing act between Russia and Ukraine. While India has not explicitly condemned the Russian invasion, it has called for an international probe into the Bucha massacre and expressed concern over nuclear threats issued by Russian leaders. At the UN Security Council, India has taken a nuanced position and abstained from voting against Russia in several resolutions.
In their conversation in October last year, Modi had told Zelenskyy that there cannot be a military solution to the Ukraine conflict. India has called for immediate cessation of hostilities, and has said that both sides should revert to dialogue and diplomacy.
In Hiroshima, Modi also met Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida, US President Joe Biden and Australian PM Anthony Albanese for the Quad leaders’ meeting. Earlier in the day, he unveiled a bust of Mahatma Gandhi and met leaders of France, Germany, South Korea and Vietnam among others.
With Kishida, Modi’s conversation was on ways to synergise efforts under G7 and G20 presidencies to deal with various global challenges. “The PM stressed the need to highlight the concerns and priorities of the Global South,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
With French President Emmanuel Macron, he discussed cooperation in trade and economic spheres, co-production and manufacturing in the defence sector and civil nuclear cooperation. They also talked about Modi’s visit to France in July for Bastille Day.
With German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, they reviewed the progress in bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional developments and global challenges.
With South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, they agreed to deepen cooperation in areas like trade and investment, defence, semi-conductors and cutting-edge technologies. The two leaders also discussed issues related to the Korean Peninsula, Indo-Pacific and beyond. They agreed to jointly contribute to regional peace and stability by harmonising South Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and India’s Act East Policy.
With Vietnam’s PM Pham Minh Chinh, they discussed opportunities in areas like trade and investment, defence and energy and agreed to deepen bilateral strategic ties. They also discussed ASEAN and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
In his address at one of the G7 outreach sessions, Modi called for building an inclusive food system that focuses on the world’s most vulnerable people and pitched for checking the “expansionist mentality” occupying the fertiliser resources.
