Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his willingness to visit India on Friday and asserted that the nation has the potential to become a key participant in global diplomacy to put an end to the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Zelenskyy's comments came after an invite by Modi, extended during the latter's historic visit to Ukraine. This was the first visit of an Indian PM since Ukraine gained independence in 1991, six weeks after Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin for a summit in Moscow.
Speaking to the visiting Indian media after the bilateral talks, Zelenskyy described Modi's visit as "historic" and said that he wants India on his side in the conflict. "I very much need your country on our side, not balancing between the US and Russia," Zelenskyy told reporters. Earlier, Modi had called for direct talks between Ukraine and Russia to accelerate the end of the war and reiterated India's unchanged stand since the outbreak of the war in February 2022 for a peaceful solution.
“Modi’s visit was historic,” and added: “I very much need your country on our side, not balancing between US and Russia.”
He emphatically brought out the point that understanding a country is possible through its people. “When you begin a strategic partnership, and you begin some dialogue, you don’t need to lose time. That’s why I think it will be good to meet together again, and if our meeting will be in India, I’ll be happy,” Zelenskyy said.
“I think, to understand a country is to understand people also. It’s better to be in your country because to find the key to your country and to your Prime Minister is to see your people and I need very much to find the key to your country, because I very much need your country on our side, not balancing between the US and Russia,” he said.
“It’s not about your historical choice, but who knows, maybe your country can be the key in this diplomatic influence,” he said, adding, “That’s why I’ll be happy to come to India as soon as your government, Prime Minister (Modi) will be ready to see me.” Replying to another question, he said, “We want him (Modi) very much to have peace summits, and of course we will be happy to work on it and of course, if he has his ideas, we will be happy to discuss it.
“But we don’t change our territories on any propositions … we don’t change our people to any propositions, our territories our values and our freedom and democracy to any propositions … we will not change,” he said.
“PM Modi wants peace more than Putin. The problem is Putin doesn’t want (peace). I don’t know what they spoke during their meeting. But I ….” Zelenskyy said and shrugged with an expression of exasperation.
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