Modi Advocates Peace during Historic Ukraine Visit

During a landmark visit to Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to engage in peace talks with Russia. Modi reiterated India's commitment to peace, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and expressed readiness to facilitate a resolution. The discussions also focused on bilateral cooperation in various sectors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday emphasized the urgent need for Ukraine and Russia to negotiate a peaceful resolution to their ongoing conflict. Speaking in Kyiv, he conveyed India's readiness to play an 'active role' in restoring peace.

During his nearly nine-hour visit, Modi reiterated his call for 'sincere and practical' engagement involving all stakeholders to create innovative solutions with broad acceptability. Modi's visit, the first by an Indian prime minister since Ukraine's independence, followed recent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which sparked Western criticism.

Zelenskyy praised India's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and emphasized the importance of respecting the UN Charter. The leaders discussed bolstering bilateral ties in trade, defense, healthcare, agriculture, and education. Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, highlighted the detailed and constructive nature of the discussions, which also touched on food and energy security.

(With inputs from agencies.)