India worried about the security of Ukraine's nuclear plants, PM Modi spoke to Zelensky over telephone

India has expressed its concern at the highest level regarding the security of nuclear plants in the region in view of the growing prospects of a deepening Ukraine-Russia crisis. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on telephone and spoke in detail about the situation arising out of the current crisis and bilateral relations. PM Modi very firmly put India's stand that there can be no military solution to the current crisis.

India's statement assumes significance in view of the recent information about the withdrawal of Russian forces from several parts of Ukraine. He also told Zelensky that India is ready to do whatever it can to help establish peace between Ukraine and Russia. The talks between Modi and Zelensky came two-and-a-half weeks after Modi's bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's apex meeting. In that meeting, Modi bluntly told Putin that, 'this era is not of war'.

Telephone talks with Zelensky on behalf of Modi are also being linked to the rhetoric against India on behalf of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister several times in recent days. According to the information given by the Prime Minister's Office, PM Modi told the President of Ukraine that India attaches great importance to the Ukraine situation and the security of all other nuclear plants. Damage to nuclear installations can have far-reaching consequences. It can also have devastating effects on public health and the environment. PM Modi urgently needed both the sides to leave the path of confrontation and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy.