Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met for their first face-to-face discussion since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan. Modi, who has previously refrained from condemning the invasion, expressed India’s commitment to doing “everything we can” to help end the war. He emphasized that the conflict in Ukraine is not just an economic or political issue, but a matter of humanity. Zelensky invited Modi to join Ukraine’s peace efforts and sought continued military aid from the G7 member nations. The meeting provided Zelensky with an opportunity to engage with leaders who already support Ukraine and also to seek support from other nations attending the summit, some of which have not imposed sanctions on Russia or condemned its actions at the United Nations.
During the meeting, Modi highlighted the global significance of the Russia-Ukraine war and expressed his personal desire to end the hostilities. He acknowledged the pain and suffering caused by war and assured Zelensky that India, both as a nation and personally, would do everything necessary to resolve the crisis. The Indian Prime Minister was accompanied by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, while Zelensky was accompanied by his security and foreign affairs team.
Zelensky and Modi discussed Ukraine’s peace formula initiative, with Zelensky inviting India to join its implementation. The Ukrainian President also raised Ukraine’s requirements for mobile hospitals and demining support. Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra confirmed that Zelensky had extended an invitation to Modi to visit Ukraine. Modi conveyed India’s support for dialogue and diplomacy to find a way forward and assured continued humanitarian support to the people of Ukraine.
The two leaders had previously met at the COP26 summit in Glasgow in 2021. Modi has consistently called for dialogue and cessation of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. India’s stance has been that matters concerning the developing world or the Global South should be prioritized. In his remarks at the G7 meeting, Modi indirectly addressed the commodities crisis triggered by the war in Ukraine, stressing the need to remove political obstacles in the global fertilizer supply chains. He advocated for natural farming as an alternative to fertilizers and emphasized the importance of an inclusive food system.
Modi also highlighted the importance of safeguarding the rights of transgender individuals and highlighted India’s laws for their protection. He presented India’s development as centered on women’s welfare and emphasized that women’s development was no longer a matter of discussion in India, as the country is now a leader in women-led development.
In conclusion, the meeting between Zelensky and Modi at the G7 summit marked an important opportunity for both leaders to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and seek support for peace initiatives. Modi expressed India’s commitment to resolving the crisis and offered support for dialogue and diplomacy. The meeting also addressed other issues such as the global fertilizer supply chain and the rights of transgender individuals. While the outcome of the meeting remains to be seen, it signifies the importance of international cooperation in finding a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
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