Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India's support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine during a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday. The call occurred ahead of Modi's scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.

During the conversation, Zelenskyy shared his perspective on recent developments in Ukraine. Modi thanked Zelenskyy and reiterated India's consistent stance in favor of a peaceful settlement and its support for efforts aimed at restoring peace as quickly as possible. He also conveyed India's commitment to providing all possible assistance in this regard.

Following the call, Modi reiterated India's long-standing position on the conflict, emphasizing the country's support for a peaceful resolution. In a post on X, Modi stated that India extends its full support to all efforts направлены in this direction, underscoring India's commitment to restoring peace and stability in the region. Zelenskyy echoed Modi's sentiments, describing their discussion as "productive and important". He added that he had updated Modi on his recent talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., where they discussed potential steps toward peace. Zelenskyy also affirmed Ukraine's readiness for a meeting with the Russian leadership.

Zelenskyy stated that he had informed Modi about his talks with President Trump, which included European leaders and reflected a shared vision on achieving real peace. He thanked India for its willingness to take the necessary steps and convey the appropriate signal to Russia and other leaders during meetings on the sidelines of the SCO summit. Zelenskyy also said that the end of the war must begin with an immediate ceasefire. He further stated that India is ready to make the necessary efforts and deliver the appropriate signal to Russia.

The leaders also reviewed the progress of the India-Ukraine bilateral partnership and discussed ways to enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest. They agreed to maintain contact. Modi recalled his visit to Kyiv in August of the previous year and noted the progress in India-Ukraine bilateral relations since then. He expressed his anticipation of working with Zelenskyy to strengthen the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

The timing of the call is significant as Modi's meeting with Putin could influence India's diplomatic position in the ongoing conflict. Zelenskyy also condemned recent Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian civilians, stating that they demonstrated Moscow's unwillingness to engage in diplomatic efforts.

India has consistently advocated for resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. In July of the previous year, Modi told Putin that a solution to the conflict was not possible on the battlefield and that peace efforts could not succeed amidst violence. In August of the same year, Modi visited Kyiv and conveyed to Zelenskyy that both Ukraine and Russia should engage in discussions without delay to end the war.