Ahead of Modi-Putin talks, Zelenskyy urges PM to send right signal to Russia; EAM says India unfairly targeted

Ahead of PM Narendra Modi ’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday in China, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dialled Modi to say that while Ukraine was ready for a meeting with Putin, Russia continued to carry out “cynical strikes” killing dozens of civilians. He also sought an immediate ceasefire saying peace talks were not possible while fighting was still on.

Zelenskyy briefed Modi about his meeting with President Donald Trump and European leaders in Washington this month and later said he had spoken to Modi to “coordinate” position with India ahead of the SCO summit in Tianjin, suggesting he expects the PM to stress ceasefire when he meets Putin on the margins of the summit. He in fact said Modi seemed ready to convey the “appropriate signal” to Putin.

“We exchanged views on the ongoing conflict, its humanitarian aspect, and efforts to restore peace and stability. India extends full support to all efforts in this direction,” said Modi in a post on X. Capitals across the Western world, particularly Washington, will closely follow Modi’s meeting with Putin for the message he conveys to Putin on the war.

Shortly before Zelenskyy and Modi spoke, external affairs minister S Jaishankar told his Finland counterpart Elina Valtonen in a phone conversation India should not be unfairly targeted over the Ukraine conflict. Jaishankar said in a post on X that the discussions centered around the Ukraine conflict and recalled that India has always advocated dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict. Valtonen said just and lasting peace in Ukraine requires more pressure on Putin to engage in real negotiations.

Both the conversations came against the backdrop of repeated and hostile targeting of India by senior Trump administration officials for its trade links with Russia. The US has imposed an additional 25 percent tariffs on India for its crude purchase from Russia and Trump’s trade advisor Peter Navarro last week went to the extent of calling the Ukraine situation Modi’s war.

While the government has made it clear to the US it won’t budge on the red lines it has drawn in trade negotiations, and that its oil procurement will continue to be guided by national interests and strategic autonomy, it has also so far avoided a public spat with Washington, exercising what many have described as strategic restraint. “Almost two weeks have passed (since his meeting with Trump in White House), and during this time, when Russia should have been preparing for diplomacy, Moscow has given no positive signal – only carried out cynical strikes on civilian targets and killed dozens of our people,” said Zelenskyy in his readout of the conversation with Modi.

He said the end of this war must begin with an immediate ceasefire and that this position is understood and supported by everyone. “It is impossible to speak meaningfully about peace while our cities and communities are under constant fire. India is ready to make the necessary efforts and to deliver the appropriate signal to Russia and other leaders during the meetings on the sidelines of the summit,” said Zelenskyy, adding he will be glad to meet the Prime Minister in the near future.