Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout/Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands during the G7 leaders’ summit in Hiroshima, Japan on May 20, 2023.
CNN
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Japan on Saturday, the first personal meeting between the two since the Russian invasion began.
Modi – who has so far refused to condemn the invasion – said India would do “everything we can” to help end the war.
“The war in Ukraine is a big issue for the whole world,” he said. “It also has a lot of impact around the world. But I don’t think it’s just an economic or political issue. For me, this is an issue of the people.”
For his part, Zelensky invited Modi to join the peace efforts in Ukraine to end the war against Russia.
Zelensky’s personal attendance at the G7 – not confirmed by host country Japan until Saturday morning – gives the wartime leader the opportunity to meet with member countries that have returned to Ukraine – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States – and pressed them for continued military aid.
But it also offered Zelenksy an opportunity to seek support for Ukraine and its vision for peace with leaders from several other countries also attending the summit – some of which did not join the West in using of sanctions against Russia or those, such as India, that refuse to condemn Russia at the United Nations.
India has historically been a major buyer of Russian arms and has a long-standing relationship with Moscow. It has also increased Russia’s energy purchases – providing a vital economic lifeline to leader Vladimir Putin’s government, even as the West slaps more controls on this key source of revenue.
Although New Delhi has sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine throughout the war, it has avoided UN resolutions calling for its withdrawal and condemning its invasion.
Winning support or understanding from leaders like Modi could be a key motivation driving Zelensky to attend the G7, analysts said. Other participating countries include Indonesia, Australia, Brazil, Korea, and Vietnam.
In Modi’s case, close ties with Russia could mean the potential to apply pressure on Putin, or keep his economy going.
Last year, Modi spoke to Putin of the need to “move to a path of peace” during a face-to-face meeting with the Russian leader on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Uzbekistan in September, according to a readout from the Indian side – was seen at the time as a sign of impatience from New Delhi as the conflict continued.
But months ago the Indian leader appeared committed to walking a careful line, neither openly condemning the Kremlin nor calling for its withdrawal from Russian territory.
Modi has spoken to Zelensky on the phone several times since the Russian invasion, most recently in December, where the Indian leader repeated his call for a “ceasefire” and “dialogue” to resolve the conflict.
Zelensky’s peace plan, in contrast, calls for the restoration of Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and the withdrawal of Russian troops.
Western leaders have criticized calls for a ceasefire that also does not include the withdrawal of Russian troops, saying they are tantamount to helping Moscow consolidate territory it annexes.
Zelensky also attended the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia on Friday, where he urged sympathy for Saudi Arabia’s leaders who “turned a blind eye” to the war in Ukraine.
At the G7, Zelensky is scheduled to sit down with leaders from the G7 member countries, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as join a larger peace and stability session with other guests. countries, Japan said on Saturday.