Japan’s HIROSHIMA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Saturday that India will do “whatever we can” to address the Ukraine issue, as he met President Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time since Russia’s incursion.
“I understand your pain and the pain of Ukrainian citizens very well,” Modi said during a meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the Group of 7 conference in Hiroshima, Japan.
“I can assure you that to resolve this, India and I will do everything in our power,” Modi said.
It was the pair’s first face-to-face meeting since Russia’s incursion began 15 months ago, which New Delhi has steadfastly refused to condemn.
According to a post on Zelensky’s Telegram account, he “thanked India for supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country, particularly at the sites of international organizations.”
Zelensky also praised Modi for giving humanitarian aid to the war-torn country and asked India to participate in the implementation of Ukraine’s “peace formula” proposal.
After gaining US approval for Ukraine to buy sophisticated fighter jets, Zelensky came in Hiroshima on Saturday afternoon for a surprise in-person presentation.
He promptly started on a diplomatic frenzy of meetings with leaders of the G7’s major established countries as well as invited developing nations, like India.
According to the Telegram post, Modi also thanked Zelensky for his assistance to Indian students following Russia’s incursion.
Earlier, the Ukrainian leader met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, whom he also met with days ago on a tour of European allies to drum up support for a planned spring offensive.
Zelensky wrote on Telegram that he thanked Sunak “for the UK’s leadership in the international fighter jet coalition.”
In negotiations with European Council President Charles Michel, Zelensky emphasized export limitations on Ukrainian agricultural products, as well as the “inadmissibility” of the sanctions being prolonged beyond June 5, he claimed on his Telegram account.
The EU has approved import restrictions on some Ukrainian products until June 5 to help alleviate oversupply in neighboring nations.
During meetings, French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Zelensky’s decision to travel in person, telling him that the opportunity to involve developing countries “can be a game changer.”
