Ukraine calls India ‘global power’, thanks PM Modi for pushing to end war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Kyiv and expressed gratitude for India’s efforts to bring the Russia-Ukraine war to an end, as the two sides discussed possible approaches towards peace and threats to civilian shipping in the Black Sea. Jaishankar, who is on an official visit to Ukraine, briefed Zelenskyy on his discussions with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on strengthening bilateral cooperation.

“Our conversation centered on approaches to end the ongoing conflict,” Jaishankar said following the meeting. Zelenskyy said Ukraine appreciated India's desire to help end the conflict and highlighted New Delhi's consistent position that the present era should not be defined by war. “We are grateful to India for its desire to end this unjust war — the war of Russia against Ukraine. This time must certainly not be a time of war. Peace is needed. This is India's clear position,” Zelenskyy said.

Drones launched during visit

The Ukrainian President said Russia launched jet-powered Shahed drones while Jaishankar was in Kyiv, adding that the Indian delegation remained safe due to the country's air defences and combat aircraft. Zelenskyy expressed hope that other major countries would also take a clear position in favour of ending the conflict and establishing a durable peace.

The meeting came as Russian aerial attacks on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine continued. Jaishankar had earlier reiterated that India believed solutions to the conflict would not emerge from the battlefield and offered New Delhi's assistance towards ending the war. “If India can be of any help, in any manner, we are there,” Jaishankar said after talks with Sybiha. India has maintained that the conflict must ultimately be resolved through dialogue, diplomacy and negotiations.

Black Sea concerns

Zelenskyy and Jaishankar also discussed the situation in the Black Sea and threats to civilian and commercial shipping, an issue that has acquired greater significance amid attacks on vessels and disruption of maritime trade. The Ukrainian President said blocking food supplies to regions dependent on maritime routes was unacceptable and argued that disruption of Ukrainian ports, the grain corridor and food exports was having consequences beyond the conflict zone. Jaishankar also raised concerns over the safety of Indian seafarers working aboard vessels of different flags. He said attacks on commercial shipping were affecting countries across the Global South through disruptions to supplies of food, fuel and fertilisers.

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar held wide-ranging talks with Sybiha covering the conflict as well as bilateral cooperation. The two sides discussed opportunities in trade, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, digitalisation, innovation and other sectors. Jaishankar's visit comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, called for moving from an “endless war” towards an end to the war.