Winning support from leaders like the Indian Prime Minister could be a key driver behind Ukraine's attendance at the G7 summit, analysts say.
 |
| Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan on May 20. (Source: Twitter) |
On the afternoon of May 20, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Hiroshima, Japan.
This is the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Modi assured the Ukrainian leader that New Delhi would work to find a solution to the conflict.
Stressing that “the conflict in Ukraine has many different impacts across the world” and is “a problem for humanity,” Modi pledged, “India and I, personally, will do whatever we can to find a solution” to end the conflict.
Later, sharing on Twitter about the meeting with President Zelensky, the Indian leader affirmed that New Delhi supports dialogue and diplomacy to find a solution to the conflict in Ukraine, and "continues to expand humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people".
Meanwhile, President Zelensky said he invited India to join Kiev's peace formula and the two leaders also discussed Ukraine's needs for mine clearance and field hospitals.
 |
| This is the first face-to-face meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Volodymyr Zelensky since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. (Source: Twitter) |
India has so far maintained a neutral stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Although New Delhi has sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine, it has not joined any sanctions against Moscow. As the West tries to reduce its dependence on Russian energy, India continues to buy Russian oil at attractive discounts.
During a face-to-face meeting with President Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Uzbekistan last September, Prime Minister Modi discussed the need to “move towards the path of peace”.
At the time, it was seen as a sign of impatience from New Delhi as the conflict dragged on.
But months later, the Indian leader appeared committed to a cautious line, refraining from explicitly condemning the Kremlin or calling for Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine.
Over the past year, Prime Minister Modi himself has spoken to Zelensky on the phone several times, most recently in December, when the Indian leader reiterated his call for a “cessation of hostilities” and “dialogue” to resolve the conflict.
This is the first face-to-face meeting between Mr Modi and Mr Zelensky since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Winning support or understanding from leaders like Mr. Modi may have been a key motivation behind the Ukrainian leader’s surprise trip to Hiroshima, Japan, for the G7 summit, analysts say.
Source
Comment (0)