new DelhiPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday conveyed to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov that India is ready to contribute to peace efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and end violence there at the earliest. called upon.
Lavrov, who is in India on a two-day visit, called on the Prime Minister after holding extensive talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Lavrov told a press conference ahead of his meeting with Modi that India, with its “just and rational” approach to international problems, can support peace efforts if it chooses to play such a role.
According to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Russian Foreign Minister briefed Modi about the situation in Ukraine, including Moscow’s ongoing peace talks with Kyiv. “The Prime Minister reiterated his call for an early end to the violence and conveyed India’s willingness to contribute in any way to the peace efforts,” the statement said.
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Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dimitro Kuleba told NDTV on Wednesday that India can use its influence with Russia to persuade it to stop the war in Ukraine. Asked if he sees Prime Minister Modi as a possible mediator between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kuleba said, “If Prime Minister Modi is willing to play that role, we will do his best.” would welcome the efforts.”
Lavrov told the press conference that India can play the role if it so desires and “with its just and rational approach to international problems, it can support such a process and no one will be against it.” He was responding to a question whether India can play a mediator role in de-escalating the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The Russian Foreign Minister reiterated that it is for New Delhi to decide whether it sees a role that provides a solution to the problem in this current situation, and provides equality and security. The Russian Foreign Minister also updated Modi on the progress of decisions taken during the India-Russia bilateral summit held in December last year, the statement said. Lavrov arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening after a two-day visit to China.
India has been pressing for a solution to the Ukraine crisis through diplomacy and dialogue. Modi held phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, March 2 and March 7. Prime Minister Modi also spoke to the President of Ukraine twice. (agency)