India stands 'firmly for peace' PM Modi tells Ukraine's Zelensky
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his country stood "firmly for peace" in the war between Ukraine and Russia during a Friday meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
"We were not neutral from day one, we have taken a side, and we stand firmly for peace," Modi said.
Modi is paying the first visit to Ukraine by an Indian prime minister.
As he pushed for a way forward on ending the Ukraine war, Modi urged Zelensky to sit down for talks with Russia and offered to act as a "friend" to help bring peace.
The two leaders shook hands and exchanged a warm hug at the entrance of the Martyrologist Exposition at the Ukraine National Museum, before talks at the Mariinsky presidential palace.
"Conflict is particularly devastating for young children. My heart goes out to the families of children who lost their lives, and I pray that they find the strength to endure their grief, Modi wrote on X.
Zelensky plans to discuss a summit on peace in Ukraine with Modi and also called for strengthened trade and military cooperation with India.
Four agreements between India and Ukraine are planned to provide for cooperation in agriculture, medicine, culture and humanitarian assistance, Indian officials said.
Putin hug 'disappointing'
Modi's arrival in Kyiv – a day ahead of Ukraine’s independence day – follows his two-day trip to Poland.
Russian troops are also grinding out slow but steady advances in Ukraine's east.
Read more on RFI English
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