In Kiev, Modi urges Zelensky to sit down for talks with Russia

KIEV: Indian President Narendra Modi on Friday (Aug 23) urged his Russian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to sit down for talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine and expressed his willingness to help achieve peace as a friend as the two leaders meet in wartime Kiev.

This is the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Ukraine in the country’s modern history and comes at a turbulent time when Russia launched the war in February 2022, with Moscow slowly making progress in eastern Ukraine and Kyiv launching a cross-border incursion.

Modi visits Moscow Last month, he was criticized by Kiev for coming to Ukraine with a message of peace and calling for early dialogue between Russia and Ukraine.

“A path to a solution can be found only through dialogue and diplomacy. We should work in this direction without any hesitation. Both sides should sit together and find a way out of this crisis,” Modi said.

“I want to assure you that India is willing to play an active role in any peace effort. If I can play any role personally, I will certainly do so, I want to assure you as a friend,” he said.

The two leaders made the remarks in a joint statement, praising the visit as “historic.”