Not the Time for War: PM Modi’s Advice to Putin and ‘Brother’ Zelensky

Not the Time for War: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking on the Lex Fridman podcast, reiterated his call for diplomacy to resolve the war in Ukraine, telling Russian President Vladimir Putin that "this is not the time for war" while advising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that battlefield victories will not lead to a lasting resolution.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to engage in direct negotiations.

"I have a close relationship with Russia and Ukraine alike," he said. "I can sit with President Putin and say that this is not the time for war. And I can also tell President Zelensky, in a friendly way, that brother, regardless of how many people stand with you in the world, there will never be a resolution on the battlefield."

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"Ukraine may hold countless discussions with their allies, but it will bear no fruit. Discussions must include both parties instead," he added.

The Kremlin confirmed today that Russia and the United States had discussed the "next steps" to end the war, following renewed diplomatic efforts. Hours earlier, Kyiv's European allies had urged Moscow to commit to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. The United States had pushed for the ceasefire after talks in Saudi Arabia, which Ukraine accepted.

Speaking on the latest developments, PM Modi said: "Initially, it was challenging to find peace, but now, the current situation presents an opportunity for meaningful and productive talks between Ukraine and Russia. There has been a lot of suffering. Even the Global South has suffered."

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His remarks come amid ongoing global efforts to mediate an end to the conflict, which has led to devastating humanitarian and economic consequences.

India has all along been pressing for the resolution of the Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.

In his summit talks with Putin on July 9 last year in Moscow, Modi told the Russian leader that a solution to the Ukraine conflict is not possible on the battlefield and peace efforts do not succeed in the midst of bombs and bullets.

Weeks later he travelled to Ukraine, where he told Zelenskyy that both Ukraine and Russia should sit together without wasting time to end tthe ongoing war and India was ready to play an "active role" to restore peace in the region.

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