Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Times of India on Monday, the 28th of October, that India can help bring an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, with New Delhi being a major global player that could bring Moscow to the negotiating table, reports Politico.
Ukraine increasingly views India, which has traditionally favoured non-alignment in external conflicts, as an ideal mediator with the Kremlin.
“[Indian Prime Minister Narendra] Modi is really the prime minister of a huge country in terms of population, economy, influence and impact,” he said.
“Modi can influence the end of the Ukraine war. That is his huge value in any conflict, that is India’s huge value”, Zelenskyy added.
While New Delhi has refrained from condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and has sought friendly relations with Moscow, it has expressed support for respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. Modi promised to be a “friend” of Kyiv and to help reach a peace deal when he visited the Ukrainian capital in August.
Zelenskyy indicated on Monday that he was open to New Delhi spearheading peace talks, saying they could “undoubtedly” take place in India.
But he added that India could put pressure on Moscow in other ways, such as “blocking the Russian economy”, limiting access to cheap energy and hindering its defence industrial complex.
Modi can help negotiate end to Putin’s war in Ukraine, says Zelenskyy
