As Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first Indian prime minister to visit war-torn Kyiv on Friday, the White House expressed optimism about the visit and stated that they thought it would be helpful in attempting to settle the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
According to John Kirby, the White House’s national security communications advisor, “if it can get us to an end to the conflict that comports with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s vision for a just peace, well then, we think that would be helpful.”
PM Modi’s visit comes against the backdrop of an ongoing conflict entering a new phase, marked by a significant shift as Ukrainian forces crossed international borders, taking control of several Russian settlements in the Kursk region.
The United States’ stance on India seems to be shifting. After PM Modi’s visit to Russia, US envoy Eric Garcetti warned that the India-US relationship should not be “taken for granted.” However, during a visit to Kyiv, John Kirby emphasised that India remains a “strong partner” for the US.
In a joint statement issued, PM Modi and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced their mutual interest in taking bilateral ties from a comprehensive partnership to a strategic partnership in the future.
The Russia-Ukraine war, which started in 2022, was one of the main focus of the meeting. Earlier, ahead of the Ukraine visit, PM Modi, while reiterating India’s stance on the conflict, stated that this is “not an era of war.” India has called for dialogue and diplomacy in order to find a solution to the conflict.
Both leaders shared a warm hug as they entered the memorial for hundreds of Ukrainian children killed during the ongoing war.
“Conflict is particularly devastating for young children,” PM Modi wrote on the social media platform X. “My heart goes out to the families of children who lost their lives, and I pray that they find the strength to endure their grief.”
The last meeting between both leaders took place in June on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy’s Apulia. In the meeting, PM Modi told Zelenskyy that India will continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful solution to the war.
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Source: India Today
