NEW DELHI, India / AsiaWire.IO / – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a telephone conversation on Monday, focusing on efforts to end the war and on bilateral cooperation. Zelenskyy briefed Modi on recent developments in the conflict, India’s Press Information Bureau said. Modi conveyed India’s readiness to contribute to all efforts aimed at a peaceful resolution. The leaders also discussed measures to strengthen cooperation in various sectors for the benefit of both peoples.
Modi reiterated that the conflict must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, reaffirming what his office called India’s human-centric approach. Writing on X, he said he was glad to have had a productive conversation with Zelenskyy. The two leaders reviewed their wide-ranging cooperation and agreed to further strengthen India-Ukraine ties. Modi also reaffirmed India’s firm commitment to contributing in every possible way toward peace.
Zelenskyy said he updated Modi on the latest diplomatic moves ahead of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi. “We are actively preparing on every item on the agenda for the meeting in Abu Dhabi,” he wrote on X. He said Ukraine had always been constructive and that Russia must show equal readiness to de-escalate. He also urged India to identify steps, and dialogue with other leaders, that could help bring the war to an end.
Food corridors on the agenda
The leaders discussed Russia’s blocking of grain exports through the Black Sea, Zelenskyy said. He said India was ready to mediate in establishing food corridors and that Ukraine was counting on those efforts. Blocked sea routes are hurting the global economy and hundreds of millions of people worldwide, he added. Zelenskyy said the two teams agreed to stay in touch on these and other bilateral issues.
Russian, Ukrainian and US delegations began a new round of talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10, their first direct meeting since February. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner joined the sessions. Earlier rounds took place in Abu Dhabi in January and February, followed by Geneva. The latest round was due to conclude on November 11. The UAE has also facilitated prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine during the war.
India balances ties with Moscow and Kyiv
India has kept close relations with both sides since the war began in February 2022. Modi became the first Indian prime minister to visit independent Ukraine when he travelled to Kyiv in August 2024. He has also reviewed the India-Russia partnership with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. In October, Putin said Modi had very good ideas on a settlement, according to PTI.
Moscow and Kyiv remain far apart on key issues, including Russia’s demand for all of the Donetsk region. Ukraine has pushed to freeze the fighting along the current line of contact. Washington has also proposed security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a broader settlement. No new agreement or initiative was announced after the call between Modi and Zelenskyy. Both sides said they would keep working to deepen cooperation between India and Ukraine.