'PM Modi can influence end of Ukraine war': Prez Volodymyr Zelenskyy expresses hope in India's role

When discussing the potential for PM Modi to facilitate negotiations, Zelenskyy expressed strong support for India as a suitable venue

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently underscored India's key role in mediating the Ukraine-Russia conflict, highlighting the influence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In an interview with the Times of India, Zelenskyy remarked, “PM Modi can influence the end of the Ukraine war. This is the huge value of him in any conflict. This is the huge value of India.”

When discussing the potential for PM Modi to facilitate negotiations, Zelenskyy expressed strong support for India as a suitable venue, stating, “Undoubtedly it can be in India and PM Modi can really do that… but we need to prepare ourselves… and only according to our format because the war is in our land… we have the platform, which is the peace summit.”

Zelenskyy also criticised the recent BRICS summit held in Russia, deeming it a failure due to the absence of several countries at the leaders' level, including representatives from Saudi Arabia and Brazil. He noted, “Putin wants to divide the world into so-called West-plus and Brics-plus… Even the (peace) proposals of Brazil and China were not acceptable to him… This was a slap for China and Brazil.”

Regarding PM Modi's willingness to facilitate peace efforts in Ukraine, Zelenskyy called for concrete actions rather than mere rhetoric. “Modi is the PM of a really huge country… Such a country cannot just say we are interested in the end of the war… PM Modi can influence the end of the war… blocking of Russian economy, blocking of cheap energy resource, blocking of defence-industrial complex of Russia will lead to the decrease in capacity of Moscow to wage wars against us", said the President as cited in the Times of India.

Zelenskyy specifically appealed to PM Modi for help in the repatriation of Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia, stating, "You can force Putin to bring back Ukrainian children… PM Modi can use his influence and tell Putin just give me 1,000 Ukrainian children who will be brought back to Ukraine. Let PM Modi bring back at least 1,000 Ukrainian children". He emphasised the humanitarian importance of this issue and expressed hope that Modi could assist in their safe return.