In a landmark meeting held in Kyiv on Friday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to engage in direct talks with Russia to achieve a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This meeting came a month after Modi's controversial visit to Moscow, which had drawn criticism from Zelensky.

During their discussion, Modi presented himself as a neutral peacemaker and emphasized India's readiness to play an active role in fostering peace. He encouraged Zelensky to sit for dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighting that he had personally made a similar entreaty when meeting with the Russian leader.

Expressing his solidarity with Ukraine, Modi paid homage to the children who lost their lives in the conflict, referencing the tragic incident of a Russian missile attack on a children's hospital in Kyiv that occurred during his visit to Moscow in July. The Indian Prime Minister conveyed his sorrow, stating, "My heart is heavy after I saw the place where children were martyred."

In response, Zelensky hailed the meeting as "historic" and regarded Modi's visit as a sign of friendship. He emphasized the duo's joint tribute to the children affected by Russian aggression. Zelensky had previously expressed disappointment over Modi's warm embrace of President Putin immediately after the missile attack.

Since the escalation of the conflict in February 2022, Ukrainian officials have been urging India to condemn the Russian invasion and take a stronger stance against their long-time partner, Russia. Zelensky had also sought support from Modi for his "peace summit" framework, which commenced in June. However, the initiative received limited backing from Global South countries, including India.

Indian officials, while refraining from direct criticism of Russia, asserted that India consistently advocated for an end to the hostilities. They also highlighted the significance of Russian weapons and oil in India's defense requirements and economy, making it difficult for India to cease purchasing from Russia.

S. Jaishankar, India's top diplomat, described the meeting as a constructive and fruitful exchange of ideas. Jaishankar highlighted India's explanation to Zelensky regarding their continued purchase of Russian oil, emphasizing that it was driven by market strategy rather than political motives. Additionally, he proposed that Zelensky explore alternative approaches to seeking a peace agreement with Russia, considering multiple avenues for peace talks.

The meeting concluded with Zelensky acknowledging India's goodwill towards Ukraine and their sincere desire for the conflict to come to an end. It remains to be seen how Ukraine will proceed in its efforts to engage in direct talks with Russia and achieve a lasting peace.

The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ukraine, despite the initial criticism, has opened doors for diplomatic engagement and potential cooperation in resolving the ongoing conflict. As the world watches, the hope for the sun of peace to rise at the earliest remains a collective aspiration.

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