Zelenskyy wished Modi a successful G-20 presidency and also asked him to help implement a “peace formula” for Ukraine, Zelenskyy said on Monday.
In November, he presented a ten-point peace plan to the group of the 20 most important industrialized and emerging countries to end the war. Zelenskyj also wrote on the short message service Twitter: “I also thanked for the humanitarian aid and the support in the UN.”
India for “Dialogue and Diplomacy”
Meanwhile, the Indian government said Modi had reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of hostilities to Zelenskyy. The Indian President called on both sides to return to dialogue and diplomacy.
Modi also pledged India’s support for any peace efforts, the government said. The heads of state also discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation: “The Prime Minister outlined the main priorities of the Indian G-20 Presidency, including giving a voice to the concerns of developing countries on issues such as food and energy security.”
Distancing from Russia?
India had been neutral in the conflict for a long time, so it did not openly criticize Moscow for the war. To a certain extent, the country is seen as a beneficiary of the economic sanctions against Russia, which is reflected, for example, in cheap energy prices. The Indian foreign minister explained, for example, that India, as the world’s third largest oil and gas consumer with a low income level, must look after its own interests and described Russia as “a stable and proven partner”.
In the past few months, however, international observers have noted a distancing from Russia and a stronger focus on the West. In August, India voted against Russia for the first time on the Ukraine issue and called for an invitation for Ukrainian President Zelensky to address the UN Security Council by video.
In September, Modi said at a meeting with Putin that now is “not the time for war.” In early December, Modi even completely ruled out meeting Putin again this year. The Bloomberg news agency, citing insiders, reported that the reason was Putin’s barely veiled threat to use nuclear weapons in the war against Ukraine.
Kremlin: Putin plans talks with Xi later this year
Meanwhile, according to the Kremlin, Putin wants to talk to China’s head of state and party leader Xi Jinping by the turn of the year. “In fact, such a contact is being prepared,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Monday, according to the Interfax news agency. Relations between the two countries are considered good, despite the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
In contrast to the talks with Xi, the Kremlin says it is not seeking contact with the West. Peskov denied that a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron was planned in the next few days. There will also be no New Year’s greetings to US President Joe Biden, Putin’s spokesman assured.
Xi and Putin last met in person in September on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The Chinese head of state also received Putin’s predecessor Dmitry Medvedev in Beijing last week. China has officially spoken out in favor of a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine war, but has not condemned it and has not joined Western sanctions against Russia.
