In another meeting with Zelenskyy, Modi seeks talks between all stakeholders

India’s recent efforts to facilitate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, without directly mediating, saw PM Narendra Modi having his 3rd meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in recent months and pledging support to efforts for enduring peace, while also underlining the need to engage Russia in any such exercise.
Zelenskyy, who sought the meeting on the sidelines of a UN summit, thanked Modi for his efforts to find a way out of the conflict and for supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as both leaders discussed at length “the way forward on pursuing a path to peace”.
Modi 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 an Indian readout. Modi had urged Zelenskyy in their meeting in Kyiv to enter into dialogue with Russia to end the conflict.
“He conveyed that India remains open to provide all support within its means to facilitate a lasting and peaceful resolution of the conflict,” said the Indian government, adding the leaders recalled Modi’s recent visit to Ukraine and expressed satisfaction at the continued consolidation of bilateral ties. Zelenskyy was quoted as saying in an interview on Monday that the war is closer to an end than people realise.
Giving details of the meeting, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said that while there has to be an agreement that peace is the way forward, ongoing discussions between leaders on the war are focused on the specifics too. “You have various processes that are underway. PM visited Kyiv. He has subsequently been in touch with President Putin, President Biden…so, there are a number of conversations that are going on. The attempt in all of these is to try and move towards some specifics. I don't say that the specifics are available today, but the attempt is to do precisely that,’’ said the official, adding Modi told Zelenskyy that the consensus in his discussions with world leaders is that they must find a way to achieve a ceasefire, and efforts are continuing in that direction.
According to Zelenskyy’s office, special attention was paid to strengthening interaction on international platforms, particularly within the UN and G20, as well as implementing his 10-point Peace Formula and preparing for the second Peace Summit. Misri, however, said later things are not at a stage where the second summit can be discussed in any detail.
India has not backed the peace formula that seeks withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine and also punishment for war crimes. While Zelenskyy suggested to Modi in the meeting in Kyiv that India could host the second peace summit, he himself seemed to rule it out too by adding that only a signatory to the first peace summit declaration can play host. India participated in the first peace summit in Switzerland, but didn’t sign on to the joint communique because Russia wasn’t invited to that peace initiative. India’s nuanced position has seen it actively seeking peace but without itself mediating between Russia and Ukraine, or proposing any peace plan of its own.
Modi’s meeting with Zelenskyy followed another meeting that he had on the margins of UNGA with Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas in which he backed a ceasefire in Gaza and early release of hostages. Misri said the meeting with Zelenskyy reflected Modi’s commitment to peace. “He’s deeply concerned also about the toll this conflict is taking on countries in the Global South. It demonstrates his commitment to finding a way forward and to contributing in any way possible to a resolution of this conflict,’’ he said.
According to Ukraine, Zelenskyy and Modi discussed the implementation of cooperation in areas agreed upon during Modi’s visit to Kyiv. “These included enhancing trade and economic relations, defence cooperation, India’s involvement in post-war reconstruction, and collaboration in education, science, and culture,” it said. Modi had met Zelenskyy on the sideline of the G7 summit in Italy in June, before visiting Kyiv last month.