Modi and Zelenskyy discuss peace efforts before Abu Dhabi talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed India's offer to mediate food corridors during a telephone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a telephone conversation on Monday to discuss the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The call took place one day before trilateral peace talks involving Russia, Ukraine, and the US are scheduled to begin in Abu Dhabi, according to reports from The Hindu, The Tribune and Times of India.
During the discussion, Modi expressed India's willingness to support all initiatives intended to reach a peaceful end to the war. He reiterated that New Delhi maintains a human-centric approach and believes the conflict should be settled through diplomacy and dialogue.
Zelenskyy briefed the Prime Minister on recent developments and highlighted the importance of food and energy security. The Ukrainian leader noted that India is prepared to act as a mediator to establish food corridors, specifically addressing the issue of Russia blocking grain exports through the Black Sea.
Zelenskyy urged India to determine specific actions and dialogues with other world leaders to help stop the war. He stated that Russia must show a readiness to de-escalate, noting that blocked sea routes are causing global economic suffering.
The Prime Minister also noted that he and Zelenskyy reviewed bilateral cooperation and agreed to strengthen ties between the two nations. Both leaders agreed that their respective teams will remain in contact regarding bilateral issues and peace efforts.
In a separate development, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. This occurred as negotiators from the US, Russia, and Ukraine prepare to restart discussions in the UAE regarding security guarantees for a potential ceasefire.