Ukraine, Russia should sit together to endwar; India can play active role: Modi

Kyiv, NT Bureau: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday conveyed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that both Ukraine and Russia should sit together without wasting time to end the ongoing war and that India was ready to play an "active role" to restore peace in the region.

In his talks with Zelenskyy in Kyiv that came a day ahead of Ukraine's Independence Day, the prime minister said India was on the side of peace since the beginning of the conflict and he would even like to contribute personally for a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

You can stop Putin, put him in his place: Zelenskyy's message to India.

Modi's nearly ninehour visit to Ukraine, the first by an Indian prime minister since its independence in 1991, came six weeks after he held summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin that triggered anguish in some Western countries.

The prime minister reiterated the need for "sincere and practical" engagement between all stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that will have "broad acceptability" and contribute towards early restoration of peace in Ukraine, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said.

"I have come with a message of peace..I want to assure you and the entire global community that India is committed to respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity (of states) and it is of utmost importance to us," Modi told Zelenskyy.

The prime minister also asserted India's strong commitment towards respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.

"We (India) are not neutral. From the very beginning, we have taken sides. And we have chosen the side of peace. We have come from the land of Buddha where there is no place for war; we have come from the land of Gandhi who had given a message of peace to the entire world," Modi said.

The prime minister also apprised Zelenskyy of his message to Putin in Samarkand in September 2022 and in Moscow last month.

"Some time back, when I met President Putin in Samarkand, I had told him that this was not the era of war. Last month when I went to Russia, I said in clear words that the solution to any problem is never found on the battlefield," Modi said.

Following the talks, Zelenskyy said India supports Ukraine's national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

After 'huglomacy', spare a thought for Manipur: Cong

The Congress on Friday took a dig at PM Modi's hug with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying now that the PM's "huglomacy" has played itself out, perhaps he can spare a thought for longsuffering Manipur.

The Congress has been accusing PMModi of ignoring the plight of the people of violencehit Manipur and asking why he is not visiting the northeastern state.