Russia-India dialogue for peace: Zelenskyy following conversation with PM Modi

In a significant development, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held discussions regarding the ongoing Ukraine conflict during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin.

On Saturday, Modi landed in Tianjin to attend the SCO summit, where member countries including China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and others gathered to discuss various global issues. The conversation between Modi and Zelenskyy marked a key moment in the summit, with the Ukraine conflict expected to be one of the focus areas of Modi's talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, scheduled for Monday.

During their discussion, Modi reaffirmed his support for a peaceful settlement to the Ukraine conflict. He also pledged to extend all possible support for peace efforts in Ukraine. This stance echoes India's consistent calls for ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.

In July last year, PM Modi travelled to Moscow and urged Putin for a solution to the Ukraine conflict not possible on the battlefield.

Zelenskyy, on the other hand, informed Modi that Ukraine is ready to make necessary efforts and deliver appropriate signals to Russia and other leaders during the SCO summit. He reaffirmed Ukraine's readiness for a meeting with the head of Russia and emphasized the need for an immediate ceasefire and necessary silence to end the war.

The two leaders also reviewed the progress in the India-Ukraine partnership and discussed ways to further enhance it in all areas of mutual interest. Zelenskyy stated that India is ready to make necessary efforts and expressed his gratitude for PM Modi's words of condolences to the victims' families.

In a significant move, Zelenskyy conveyed his readiness for a meeting with the top leadership of Russia and called for an immediate ceasefire. Modi, in response, conveyed to Zelenskyy that both Ukraine and Russia should sit together to end the war.

Reports suggest that Zelenskyy may visit India soon, and this meeting could potentially pave the way for a significant breakthrough in the Ukraine conflict. The SCO summit, with its emphasis on unity among Global South countries and a strong multilateral stance against military aggression, provides a platform for such discussions.

As the world watches, the discussions between Modi and Zelenskyy, and later between Modi and Putin, hold great significance in the ongoing efforts to bring peace to Ukraine.