In a significant statement, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his belief that Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds immense power to influence the conclusion of the ongoing Ukraine war. According to The Times of India, Zelenskyy asserted that Modi’s stance on the conflict could be pivotal, particularly his potential to curb Russian aggression by refusing to purchase cheap energy from Russia, thus diminishing Moscow’s capacity for war.
“PM Modi can influence the end of the Ukraine war. This is the huge value of him in any conflict. This is the huge value of India,” Zelenskyy reportedly said. He went further, suggesting that India could serve as a potential venue for future negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. “The negotiations that need to be done must be ‘according to our format because the war is in our land’,” Zelenskyy said in an interview with The Times of India, highlighting the importance of Ukraine’s control over the negotiation process. He emphasized the need for preparations ahead of the second Global Peace Summit scheduled for November.
Zelenskyy’s call on Modi comes as Ukraine continues to navigate a complex and challenging conflict. He expressed concerns about the upcoming US elections, particularly the potential impact of a Republican victory, which could signal a shift in support for Ukraine. Additionally, Zelenskyy acknowledged the recent Russian advances in the Donbas region of Ukraine, a development that adds further pressure to the ongoing conflict.
The Ukrainian President also addressed the uncertainty surrounding potential supply cuts in military aid. “The Victory Plan is not a bargaining chip or a topic of negotiations with Russia… We are not asking for quick Nato membership because that is not possible during the war,” Zelenskyy clarified. He proposed the upcoming peace summit as a platform for negotiations and stressed the importance of securing an invitation to NATO in the future to deter any potential shifts in support.
These developments come amidst reports of restrictions on Ukraine’s use of American-supplied long-range weapons against Russian military targets within Russia, adding further complexity to the situation. Zelenskyy’s call for Modi’s intervention and the proposed peace summit offer potential avenues for progress, but the path to a negotiated solution remains fraught with uncertainty.
