(Image source from: Twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa)
The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has reacted strongly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's brief visit to Russia and his interaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Zelenskyy referred to the recent Russian attack, which claimed the lives of at least 37 people, including three children, after a missile strike on a children's hospital in Kyiv. The strike also caused significant damage to nearly 100 buildings, including schools and maternity hospitals. His tweet included harrowing photographs of the bombed hospital and babies being transported in ambulances.
Mr. Zelenskyy's post came after Prime Minister Modi met with President Putin in Moscow, where the two leaders were captured embracing. Visuals from their meeting showed them drinking tea on a terrace at Mr. Putin's home in Novo-Ogaryovo, outside Moscow, and Mr. Modi being driven around in a golf cart. One particular image, of Mr. Modi and Mr. Putin hugging, has been widely shared online. The Ukrainian President was highly critical of this image, expressing his disappointment and describing it as a "devastating blow to peace efforts" to see the leader of the world's largest democracy embrace the world's most "bloody criminal" in Moscow on such a tragic day.
Today, Russia struck Ukrainian cities, resulting in over 170 injuries. As of now, 37 fatalities have been reported, including three children. My condolences go out to their families and loved ones.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 8, 2024
In total, nearly 100 facilities were damaged, including a children's hospital,… pic.twitter.com/Gbd5Yefzfp
Prime Minister navigates delicate balance, fostering long-standing ties while seeking closer relations with the West amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This marks his first visit since his recent electoral victory, and his initial trip to Russia since the war's onset. During discussions with President Putin, the Prime Minister emphasized that a resolution cannot be achieved solely through military means. "India has always upheld the principles of the United Nations Charter, including respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty. The path forward lies in dialogue and diplomacy, not on the battlefield," the Prime Minister is believed to have conveyed.
The Prime Minister has also engaged in multiple conversations with President Zelenskyy, including a personal meeting in Italy last month on the sidelines of the G7 summit, where the leaders were photographed embracing. Their first face-to-face encounter since the war's commencement was in May of the previous year, during the G7 summit hosted by Japan. In an October 2022 phone call with President Zelenskyy, the Prime Minister reiterated that a military solution is not possible and that India stands ready to contribute to any peace efforts.
Diplomacy is the key, and the Prime Minister has expressed India's readiness to participate in any endeavors aimed at restoring peace. The country stands willing to lend its support to initiatives that seek to resolve conflicts through dialogue and negotiation, rather than confrontation.
