New Delhi, June 14, 2024 – The upcoming Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland took center stage during a bilateral meeting on Friday between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The meeting, held on the margins of the G7 Summit in Italy, highlighted India’s ongoing support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
Key Discussions at the G7 Summit
Prime Minister Modi and President Zelenskyy met a day before the ‘Summit on Peace’ in Ukraine, scheduled to be held at the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock from June 15-16. The summit has notably excluded Russia from its invitations, while China has opted not to participate. Out of the 160 invitations sent by Switzerland, 90 states and organizations are expected to attend.
During their meeting, President Zelenskyy thanked Prime Minister Modi for sending a high-level delegation to the peace summit. “I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sending a high-level delegation to the summit,” Zelenskyy said in a Facebook post.
India’s Stance on the Ukraine Conflict
Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. “India continues to encourage a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy,” Modi said, according to a readout from the Ministry of External Affairs. “New Delhi will continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution.”
Strengthening Bilateral Relations
The readout described the meeting between Modi and Zelenskyy as “productive,” noting that the leaders discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties and exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine and the forthcoming Summit on Peace. Modi emphasized India’s eagerness to further cement bilateral relations with Ukraine and highlighted India’s human-centric approach to achieving peace.
Preparations for the Peace Summit
In their discussion, both leaders talked about preparations for the peace summit and the issues on its agenda. Although Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar are not expected to attend the summit, India will be represented by a senior official. The peace summit will focus on elements of a 10-point peace formula presented by Zelenskyy in late 2022. While major outcomes are not anticipated, the summit is seen as a symbolic effort by Ukraine to rally global support.
Additional Discussions and Agreements
During their conversation, Modi and Zelenskyy explored the development of bilateral relations and ways to expand trade, particularly concerning the functioning of the Black Sea export corridor. They also discussed the potential for exchanging experiences in the use of new technologies in agriculture.
Zelenskyy, who is a special invitee to the G7 Summit, signed a new, long-term security accord with US President Joe Biden, following a 10-year security agreement with Japan, which promises to provide Kyiv with $4.5 billion this year. These security agreements are intended to form the foundation of a new security architecture for Ukraine.
G7 and International Support
Leaders of the G7 states agreed on a deal to provide loans worth $50 billion to Ukraine by using interest from Russian assets that were frozen following Russia’s invasion. This deal underscores the continued international support for Ukraine amid ongoing hostilities.
Conclusion
The meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G7 Summit highlights India’s active role in promoting peace and stability in Ukraine. As both leaders continue to strengthen bilateral ties, the focus remains on dialogue and diplomacy as the path to resolving the conflict. Sarhind Times will continue to provide updates on the developments from the Ukraine peace summit and the evolving India-Ukraine relationship.
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