Ukraine Welcomes PM Modi’s Call for an End to the War: Sybiha
Kyiv says it is ready for diplomacy as Jaishankar meets Ukrainian Foreign Minister amid intensifying Russian attacks
KYIV, Sep 3: Ukraine has welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to shift from an “endless war” towards an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on Thursday.
Sybiha made the remarks while meeting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who arrived in Kyiv for bilateral consultations with his Ukrainian counterpart amid renewed hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.
Describing India as a global power, Sybiha said Kyiv supports Modi’s emphasis on finding a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
“Ukraine stands ready for diplomacy,” Sybiha said in a post on X after his meeting with Jaishankar.
He added that Ukraine welcomed Modi’s recent appeal to move away from a prolonged conflict and towards ending the war.
India has consistently advocated dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward for resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Earlier this week, Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bishkek on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. During the meeting, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of bringing the conflict to an end through dialogue and diplomatic engagement.
“We must move from endless war towards the end of war, which is very crucial for the well-being of humanity,” Modi said in his opening remarks.
Modi had also visited Kyiv in August 2024, when he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and conveyed India’s position that Russia and Ukraine should engage directly and work towards ending the conflict without further delay.
Jaishankar’s visit to Kyiv comes at a time of heightened tensions, with New Delhi also expressing concern over the death of an Indian national in the Ukrainian capital following a Russian strike earlier this week.
Welcoming Jaishankar to Kyiv, Sybiha described the visit as the first dedicated bilateral trip to Ukraine by an Indian External Affairs Minister.
He said the visit was taking place amid intensified Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, port facilities and civilian shipping, while Kyiv itself remains subject to frequent attacks.
The two foreign ministers also discussed the situation in the Black Sea, including the need to restore freedom of navigation and protect global food security.
New Delhi has been closely monitoring a series of attacks involving merchant vessels in the Black Sea in recent weeks, given their potential implications for international trade and food supplies.
The discussions also covered ways to expand bilateral cooperation across several sectors.
Sybiha said Ukraine and India have significant opportunities to deepen cooperation in infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, technology and digitalisation.
The two sides also agreed to work towards convening their next intergovernmental commission meeting, with the objective of translating bilateral opportunities into mutually beneficial projects.
The Ministry of External Affairs had earlier said Jaishankar’s visit would focus on strengthening India-Ukraine relations. The trip is also expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on regional developments and other issues of mutual interest.
