First visit of Indian Prime Minister to Kyiv: Modi calls for peace talks

On August 23, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his first ever visit to Ukraine and stated that both sides of the Russian-Ukrainian war “must sit down at the negotiating table and find a way out of the conflict.”

India immediately “took the side of peace,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. In a peaceful settlement, respect for sovereignty and integrity are priorities, he added.

The Indian Prime Minister emphasized that he came to Ukraine with a message of peace. His country supports respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, but, according to Modi, the only way to resolve the conflict is through dialogue and diplomacy.

Modi noted that 120 countries attended the recent Voice of the Global South summit in India, where they discussed the need for a peaceful settlement. “On behalf of these countries, I have come to you with a message of peace,” the prime minister said.

“We must move towards dialogue without wasting time. I assure you that India is ready to make a proactive contribution to peace efforts. I am personally ready to play any role as a friend to help bring about peace,” the Indian prime minister stated.

He added that during his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in July, he said that “problems cannot be solved on the battlefield.”

“The only way is through dialog and diplomacy. Without wasting time, we must move in this direction. Both sides will have to sit down together and find a way out of this crisis,” Modi said.

The Indian Prime Minister affirmed that India is prepared to actively participate in all efforts aimed at achieving peace. “I personally, as a friend, if I can play any role, I would very much like to play that role in a peaceful settlement,” he emphasized.

Volodymyr Zelensky, in turn, thanked India for supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the 16 batches of humanitarian aid provided. “The issue of ending the war and a just peace is a priority for Ukraine,” he stated.

The Ukrainian President added that he would discuss preparations for the second “peace summit” with Modi and thanked him for India’s representation at the first one. “We very much expect that India will be able to join the joint communiqué of the inaugural summit, and I will talk about this with the Prime Minister,” the Ukrainian president said. 

Volodymyr Zelensky also said that he expected India to join the joint communiqué of the first Global Peace Summit, which took place in June in Switzerland.

“Today, one of the topics of our meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the Peace Summit—how we can move in this direction,” Volodymyr Zelensky wrote.

The Indian Prime Minister’s visit is the first since Ukraine gained independence. Volodymyr Zelensky called it a historic event. Kyiv and New Delhi also agreed on four documents on cooperation in the medical, agricultural, humanitarian, and cultural areas.

Earlier, Modi said that during his visit to Kyiv he would share “perspectives” on a peaceful resolution of the “conflict” between Ukraine and Russia. According to sources at the Hindustan Times, the Indian side has ruled out any direct mediation role between Ukraine and Russia. India, however, can transmit messages between the two sides.

On June 14, 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Italy. They discussed the development of bilateral relations between the two countries and the expansion of trade, with a particular focus on the Black Sea export corridor.

On July 8, Modi visited Moscow, where he met with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.