New Delhi: After more than seven months since Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin this is “not an era of war”, he told Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the ongoing conflict is an issue of “humanity and human values”. Ever since Moscow announced its “special military operation” in Ukraine on 23 February 2022, India has maintained the stance that it will push for dialogue and diplomacy as the only solution to end the conflict while urging both sides to adhere to international norms. The bilateral in-person meeting between Modi and Zelenskyy, information regarding which was kept tightly under wraps, took place on the margins of the G-7 meeting in Hiroshima, Japan.
“Ukraine war is an extremely significant issue in the world. It is having an adverse impact on the entire world. But I do not consider this to be just an issue of economy, politics. Personally for me, this is an issue of humanity, this is an issue of human values,” Modi told Zelenskyy.
Met President @ZelenskyyUa in Hiroshima. Conveyed our clear support for dialogue and diplomacy to find a way forward. We will continue extending humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/1srbIIJUB3
Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 20, 2023
During the meeting, Zelenskyy gave a detailed briefing to PM Modi on the ‘Ukraine Peace Formula’ and urged India’s participation in the initiative. The Ukrainian President also “thanked” India for supporting our country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, in particular, at the platforms of international organizations, according to a statement issued by his office.
“The war brought many crises and suffering. Deported children, mined territories, destroyed cities, destroyed destinies,” Zelenskyy said at the delegation-level meeting.
Modi was accompanied by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during the meeting as both sides held delegation-level talks. Both leaders last met in person in November 2021 in Glasgow.
“You know it more than any of us here, the real pain of war … India as well as I myself will do whatever we can to resolve the conflict,” Modi said, adding he realised the intensity of the pain and tragedy of Ukraine after he was apprised of the situation by those Indians who were evacuated from there when the war began under ‘Operation Ganga’.
Since the onset of the war, which has continued for 15 months now, both leaders had thrice spoken on the phone even as Zelenskyy had asked Modi for implementing the ‘peace formula’ suggested by him at the G20 Summit last year in Bali.
Last year, both leaders spoke over the phone in February, October and December. India had also been sending humanitarian aid and assistance to the victims of the war in Ukraine.
This year India is the chair and will be hosting the G20 Summit in September. Russia is a member of the G20 but not Ukraine.
In April, Ukraine’s first Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova visited New Delhi. During the meeting, India had vowed to provide school buses to Ukraine apart from medicines and other aid.
India, which had continued steady business with Russia, notwithstanding the tough Western sanctions, has also stayed away from all the UN Security Council’s resolutions that called for punitive actions against Russia.
Putin is likely to visit India in July for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting that is expected to take place in New Delhi.
Before landing in Japan, Zelenskyy had gone to Jeddah to address the Arab League Summit.
“Unfortunately, there are some in the world and here, among you, who turn a blind eye to illegal annexations. I am here so that everyone can take an honest look. No matter how hard the Russians try to influence, there must still be independence,” he told the Arab nations.