NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a telephone conversation with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which the two leaders discussed the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, recent diplomatic developments and ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.In a post on X, PM Modi described the conversation as productive and said the two leaders reviewed their wide-ranging bilateral cooperation and agreed to further strengthen India-Ukraine ties. He said he thanked Zelenskyy for sharing his perspectives on the conflict, its humanitarian aspects and various efforts to restore peace.PM Modi reiterated India’s commitment to contributing in every possible way towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict. According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), he also reaffirmed New Delhi’s consistent position that the conflict must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and conveyed India’s readiness to contribute to all efforts aimed at a peaceful resolution.Zelenskyy, meanwhile, said he had briefed PM Modi on the latest diplomatic developments and ongoing preparations for a meeting in Abu Dhabi. He said Ukraine was preparing on every item on the agenda and called on Russia to demonstrate a similar willingness to de-escalate the conflict.The Ukrainian president also said the two leaders discussed India’s potential role in establishing food corridors amid disruptions to grain exports through the Black Sea. According to Zelenskyy, PM Modi had said India was ready to mediate in establishing such corridors, an effort Kyiv hopes will continue.
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“It is important that India identify what steps it can take and what dialogue it can pursue with other leaders to help bring the war to an end. Food security could be one such area,” Zelenskyy wrote on X.He also highlighted the wider economic and humanitarian consequences of blocked maritime routes, saying disruptions to grain exports were affecting the global economy and hundreds of millions of people around the world.Zelenskyy said the two sides had agreed that their teams would remain in contact on the food-security issue and other bilateral matters.The conversation comes as the Russia-Ukraine war approaches its fifth year, with diplomatic efforts continuing to find a path towards ending the conflict.
