India’s Modi Meets Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Offers Support for Peace Talks
Kiev, Ukraine – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on August 23, marking the first bilateral summit between the two leaders since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. Themeeting comes as India continues to navigate a delicate balancing act between its close ties with Russia and its support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
During the talks,Modi reiterated India’s call for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, emphasizing the need for both sides to engage in meaningful dialogue to find a way out of the crisis. Both sides should sit at the negotiating table and exploreways to de-escalate the situation, Modi stated.
Zelenskyy, in turn, highlighted Ukraine’s commitment to achieving a just peace that ends the war. Ending the war and achieving a just peace is Ukraine’s top priority, he said.
The two leaders also agreed to strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of economy and defense. This agreement comes amidst growing economic ties between India and Ukraine, with India seeking to diversify its supply chains and reduce dependence on Russia.
Modi’s visit to Ukraine follows a seriesof diplomatic efforts by India to engage in the conflict. In June, India participated in a Peace Summit convened by Ukraine, where participating countries discussed a Ukrainian-proposed peace plan and adopted a joint statement. While India attended the summit, it did not endorse the joint statement, reflecting its cautious approach to the conflict.
Zelenskyy’s statement referencing the joint statement from the Peace Summit is seen as an attempt to garner India’s support for Ukraine’s position, particularly regarding the return of occupied territories. India, however, has maintained a neutral stance on the territorial dispute, avoiding any explicit condemnation of Russia’s actions.
India’s position on the conflict has been a subject of much scrutiny, with some criticizing its perceived neutrality as a sign of tacit support for Russia. India’s dependence on Russia for military equipment and energy supplies, as well as its historical ties with Moscow, have been cited as reasons for its reluctance to take amore assertive stance against Russia.
Despite its close relationship with Russia, India has also expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and has provided humanitarian assistance to the country. India has also abstained from voting on UN resolutions condemning Russia’s invasion, opting instead to call for dialogue and diplomacy.
Modi’s visitto Kyiv is seen as a significant step in India’s engagement with the conflict. While India’s position remains nuanced, the meeting with Zelenskyy underscores India’s commitment to a peaceful resolution and its willingness to engage with both sides. The outcome of this meeting and the subsequent developments in India’s approach to theconflict will be closely watched by the international community.
【来源】https://nwapi.nhk.jp/nhkworld/rdnewsweb/v6b/zh/detail/20240824_02.json
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