Peace plan in works, Ukraine pins hopes on PM Modi’s visit

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NEW DELHI: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to head to Ukraine this month, a top Ukrainian official has told India’s Deputy National Security Adviser (NSA) Pavan Kapoor that his country hoped that the Indian PM would be able to help “restore just peace” for Ukraine.

Ukraine and Russia have been waging a war with each other since February 2022. The office of the President of Ukraine issued a statement today detailing the meeting between the head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, and Indian Deputy NSA Pavan Kapoor at Kyiv. “Discussed the frontline situation and peace formula implementation,” the statement read.

Andriy Yermak spoke on the situation at the front and shelling of civilian infrastructure, in particular about the Russian attack on Kostiantynivka, the statement further said.

“The head of the President’s Office emphasised the importance of restoring just peace for Ukraine and India’s participation in this process. He expressed hope that Indian PM Narendra Modi will be able to make efforts for this,” it concluded.

Modi is set to visit Ukraine in the third week of this month, and the visit is happening after Modi visited Russia last month (July 8-9) and met Russian President Vladimir Putin for the annual summit at Moscow. The US has repeatedly asked Modi and India to use their “good relations” with Russia to bring about an end to the ongoing war.

Modi had met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in June on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy.