Ukraine-Russia war: Zelenskyy dials PM Modi, proposes to meet him in person during UNGA in September
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for PM Modi's warm words of support for the Ukrainian people, emphasising the importance of international solidarity during these challenging times.
Sharing the details in a post on X, the Ukrainian President said that the two leaders held discussions on wide-ranging topics.
Zelenskyy wrote on X, 'I had a long conversation with the Prime Minister of India @narendramodi. We discussed in detail all important issues – both of our bilateral cooperation and the overall diplomatic situation. I am grateful to the Prime Minister for his warm words of support for our people."
"We agreed to plan a personal meeting in September during the UN General Assembly and to work on an exchange of visits," he added.
This conversation comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with the US and other countries exploring ways to end the conflict. India has maintained a balanced approach, advocating for peaceful resolution while also strengthening ties with both Russia and Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president briefed PM Modi on recent Russian attacks, including a strike on a bus station in Zaporizhzhia that injured dozens of people. Zelenskyy stressed that these attacks occur at a time when diplomatic efforts could potentially end the war, yet Russia shows no willingness to cease fire.
"I informed about the Russian attacks on our cities and villages, about yesterday's strike on the bus station in Zaporizhzhia, where dozens of people were injured in a deliberate Russian bombing of a regular urban facility. And this is at a time when there is finally a diplomatic possibility to end the war. Instead of demonstrating readiness for a ceasefire, Russia is showing only its desire to continue the occupation and killings," Zelenskyy posted on X.
Meanwhile, PM Modi reaffirmed India's steadfast and consistent position for the peaceful settlement of the Ukraine conflict and support for efforts aimed at the restoration of peace.
According to a PMO release, the Prime Minister thanked the Ukrainian President and "reaffirmed India's steadfast and consistent position for peaceful settlement of the conflict and support for efforts aimed at the earliest restoration of peace".
PM Modi reiterated India's commitment to extend all possible support in this regard.
The leaders also reviewed progress in the India-Ukraine bilateral partnership and discussed ways to further enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest, the release said. They agreed to remain in touch.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, 'Glad to speak with President Zelenskyy and hear his perspectives on recent developments. I conveyed India's consistent position on the need for an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict. India remains committed to making every possible contribution in this regard, as well as to further strengthening bilateral ties with Ukraine.'
Zelenskyy, in his post talked about "limiting exports of Russian energy".
"It is important that India is supporting our peace efforts and shares the position that everything concerning Ukraine must be decided with Ukraine's participation. Other formats will not deliver results," he posted on X.
"We also discussed in detail the sanctions against Russia. I noted that it is necessary to limit the export of Russian energy, particularly oil, to reduce its potential and ability to finance the continuation of this war. It is important that every leader who has tangible leverage over Russia sends the corresponding signals to Moscow," said Zelenskyy.
Earlier on August 8, PM Modi had a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin.
During their telephone call, President Putin briefed PM on the latest developments concerning Ukraine, as per a statement by the External Affairs Ministry.
The call between India and Ukraine comes on the heels of a summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which is to take place on August 15, in Alaska. The meeting is expected to focus heavily on efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
The White House is considering inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to a summit in Alaska between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a White House official told The Hill's sister network, NewsNation, on Sunday. It remains unclear if Zelenskyy will attend the meeting as details are yet to be finalised, The Hill reported.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
9 hours ago
- Observer
Russian forces rapidly pierce Ukraine's lines
KYIV: Russian forces have rapidly advanced in a narrow but important sector of the front line in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv and analysts said on Tuesday, before talks between the Russian and US presidents. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky warned ahead of the Friday meeting in Alaska between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin that Moscow was laying the groundwork for further attacks, not peace. The Ukrainian army said there had been fighting around the village of Kucheriv Yar in the Donetsk region, acknowledging new and speedy Russian gains. The Ukrainian DeepState blog, which retains close connections with the military, showed Russian advances around 10 kilometres over around two days, punching deep into a narrow sliver of Ukraine on the front. The corridor, now apparently under Russian control, threatens the town of Dobropillia, a mining hub that civilians are fleeing and that has been coming under Russian drone attacks. It also further isolates the embattled and destroyed town of Kostiantynivka, which is one of the last large urban areas in the Donetsk region still held by Ukraine. The Institute for the Study of War, a US-based observatory, said Russia was dispatching small sabotage groups forwards. It said it was "premature" to call the Russian advances in the Dobropillia area "an operational-level breakthrough". The Operational-Tactical Group Donetsk, which oversees parts of the front in the industrial region, also said Russia was probing Ukrainian lines with small sabotage groups, describing battles as "complex, unpleasant and dynamic". Trump, who is scheduled to meet Putin on Friday, has described the summit as a "feel-out meeting" to gauge the Russian leader's ideas for ending the war in Ukraine. European leaders, meanwhile, are rushing to ensure respect for Kyiv's interests. "We see that the Russian army is not preparing to end the war. On the contrary, they are making movements that indicate preparations for new offensive operations," Zelensky said in a statement on social media. Moscow's army, which attacked Ukraine in 2022, has made costly but incremental gains across the sprawling front in recent months and claims to have annexed four Ukrainian regions while still fighting to control them. Ukrainian police, meanwhile, said on Tuesday that Russian attacks in the past hours had killed three people and wounded 12 others, including a child. Meanwhile, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Tuesday that he did not support an EU leaders' statement on Ukraine's right to "choose its own destiny" released ahead of a US-Russia summit this week. Orban said the "only sensible action" for EU leaders was "to initiate an EU-Russia summit, based on the example of the US-Russia meeting". "Let's give peace a chance!," he said on X, describing the Trump-Putin summit as "historic". The EU leaders' "statement attempts to set conditions for a meeting to which leaders of the EU were not invited," Orban said. "The fact that the EU was left on the sidelines is sad enough as it is. The only thing that could make things worse is if we started providing instructions from the bench," he added. Orban regularly breaks EU unity on Ukraine, to which he has refused to send arms. Orban is also a Trump ally, describing the Republican president as a "dear friend". Trump, in a press conference on Monday, in turn, described Orban as "a very, very smart man", saying he asked him whether he thinks Ukraine can defeat Russia. "He looked at me like what a stupid question. He said Russia is a massive country and they win their country, they win their lives through wars," Trump added. Europe again increased its military aid to Ukraine in May and June, unlike the United States, and is depending increasingly on its defence industry rather than existing weapons stockpiles, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy said on Tuesday. Europe, the United Kingdom included, sent or earmarked a total of 80.5 billion euros ($93.7 billion) in military aid between the start of the war and the end of June 2025, against 64.6 billion euros allocated by the United States. — AFP
Times of Oman
15 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Trump criticises Zelensky's resistance to "land swap" with Russia ahead of Alaska talks
Washington: US President Donald Trump on Monday (local time) criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over his refusal to cede territory to Russia, saying he "disagrees very, very severely" with the Ukrainian leader's stance, according to The Hill. "I get along with Zelensky, but, you know, I disagree with what he's done. Very, very severely disagree. This is a war that should have never happened," Trump told reporters at the White House, referring to Russia's more than three-year conflict with Ukraine, The Hill reported. In an effort to broker an end to the ongoing war, Trump announced last week that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. The meeting will reportedly include discussions about some territorial swapping for "the betterment of both" countries, a proposal Zelensky strongly opposed on Saturday, The Hill noted. "Of course, we will not give Russia any awards for what it has done. The Ukrainian people deserve peace," Zelensky said, adding that "all partners" must understand peace and that "Ukrainians will not give their land to an occupier." Trump expressed frustration with Zelensky's resistance to territorial concessions. "I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelensky was saying, 'Well, I have to get constitutional approval.' I mean, he's got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap -- because there'll be some land swapping going on," Trump stated, according to The Hill. The US President emphasised that the land swap would be "for the good of Ukraine," while acknowledging the complexities involved. "So, it's good and there's bad, but it's very complex, because you have lines that are very uneven, and there'll be some swapping. There'll be some changes in land," he added. Trump's remarks come after his special envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin in Moscow last week, during which the Russian leader reportedly proposed a ceasefire that would require Ukraine to withdraw its military from the Donetsk region, allowing Kremlin control alongside Luhansk, The Hill reported. Zelensky has not been invited to the upcoming summit with Putin. Trump said Monday he hopes a meeting between Zelensky and Putin, with or without his presence, would take place following the Alaska talks. "We're going to have a meeting with Vladimir Putin, and at the end of that meeting, probably in the first two minutes, I'll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made," Trump said. "Ultimately, I'm going to put the two of them in a room. I'll be there, or I won't be there, and I think it'll get solved," the US President added, according to The Hill.
Times of Oman
a day ago
- Times of Oman
Ukraine-Russia war: Zelenskyy dials PM Modi, proposes to meet him in person during UNGA in September
Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday held a detailed discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focusing on key issues related to bilateral cooperation and the ongoing conflict with Russia. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for PM Modi's warm words of support for the Ukrainian people, emphasising the importance of international solidarity during these challenging times. Sharing the details in a post on X, the Ukrainian President said that the two leaders held discussions on wide-ranging topics. Zelenskyy wrote on X, 'I had a long conversation with the Prime Minister of India @narendramodi. We discussed in detail all important issues – both of our bilateral cooperation and the overall diplomatic situation. I am grateful to the Prime Minister for his warm words of support for our people." "We agreed to plan a personal meeting in September during the UN General Assembly and to work on an exchange of visits," he added. This conversation comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with the US and other countries exploring ways to end the conflict. India has maintained a balanced approach, advocating for peaceful resolution while also strengthening ties with both Russia and Ukraine. The Ukrainian president briefed PM Modi on recent Russian attacks, including a strike on a bus station in Zaporizhzhia that injured dozens of people. Zelenskyy stressed that these attacks occur at a time when diplomatic efforts could potentially end the war, yet Russia shows no willingness to cease fire. "I informed about the Russian attacks on our cities and villages, about yesterday's strike on the bus station in Zaporizhzhia, where dozens of people were injured in a deliberate Russian bombing of a regular urban facility. And this is at a time when there is finally a diplomatic possibility to end the war. Instead of demonstrating readiness for a ceasefire, Russia is showing only its desire to continue the occupation and killings," Zelenskyy posted on X. Meanwhile, PM Modi reaffirmed India's steadfast and consistent position for the peaceful settlement of the Ukraine conflict and support for efforts aimed at the restoration of peace. According to a PMO release, the Prime Minister thanked the Ukrainian President and "reaffirmed India's steadfast and consistent position for peaceful settlement of the conflict and support for efforts aimed at the earliest restoration of peace". PM Modi reiterated India's commitment to extend all possible support in this regard. The leaders also reviewed progress in the India-Ukraine bilateral partnership and discussed ways to further enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest, the release said. They agreed to remain in touch. In a post on X, PM Modi said, 'Glad to speak with President Zelenskyy and hear his perspectives on recent developments. I conveyed India's consistent position on the need for an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict. India remains committed to making every possible contribution in this regard, as well as to further strengthening bilateral ties with Ukraine.' Zelenskyy, in his post talked about "limiting exports of Russian energy". "It is important that India is supporting our peace efforts and shares the position that everything concerning Ukraine must be decided with Ukraine's participation. Other formats will not deliver results," he posted on X. "We also discussed in detail the sanctions against Russia. I noted that it is necessary to limit the export of Russian energy, particularly oil, to reduce its potential and ability to finance the continuation of this war. It is important that every leader who has tangible leverage over Russia sends the corresponding signals to Moscow," said Zelenskyy. Earlier on August 8, PM Modi had a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin. During their telephone call, President Putin briefed PM on the latest developments concerning Ukraine, as per a statement by the External Affairs Ministry. The call between India and Ukraine comes on the heels of a summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which is to take place on August 15, in Alaska. The meeting is expected to focus heavily on efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. The White House is considering inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to a summit in Alaska between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a White House official told The Hill's sister network, NewsNation, on Sunday. It remains unclear if Zelenskyy will attend the meeting as details are yet to be finalised, The Hill reported.
