NEW DELHI, India (CU)_ Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday, following India’s abstention on a United Nations Security Council resolution that sought to invalidate the Russian invasion of territories captured from Ukraine. During the conversation, PM Modi told President Zelenskyy that a military solution will not solve the conflict and that India was willing to support any peace efforts. According to the MEA, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s concern for the safety and security of nuclear sites, particularly those in Ukraine.
“The leaders discussed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Prime Minister reiterated his call for an early cessation of hostilities and the need to pursue the path of dialogue and diplomacy. He expressed his firm conviction that there can be no military solution to the conflict and conveyed India’s readiness to contribute to any peace efforts,” read the statement from the Ministry of External Affairs. It added: “The Prime Minister also reiterated the importance of respecting the UN Charter, International Law, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states”.
During his phone discussion with President Zelenskyy, the Prime Minister reiterated his words to President Vladimir Putin in Samarkand, where he stated that this is not a time of war and called for a suspension of hostilities between Ukraine and Russia. According to the statement, he emphasized that the endangerment of nuclear facilities might have devastating effects on human health and the environment. As a follow up to their previous engagement in November 2021 in Glasgow, the two leaders also discussed vital areas of bilateral cooperation.
Last week, India refrained from voting on a United Nations Security Council resolution against Russia for its invasion of Ukrainian territory, arguing that escalating rhetoric or tensions would serve no one’s interests and that it was crucial to find a way to return to the negotiating table. Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council, turned down the resolution, preventing its adoption by the UNSC. Ten of the fifteen members of the Council endorsed it, while China, Gabon, India, and Brazil did not vote.
