The Impressive TimesJuly 10 2024 , The White House acknowledged India’s capacity to encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine, leveraging its ties with Russia. This statement followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis to President Putin that the solution to the Ukraine conflict lay in dialogue, not on the battlefield.
During a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre referred to India as a “strategic partner” of the U.S., with whom they engage in “full and frank dialogue,” including discussions about India’s relationship with Russia. She highlighted the critical need for all nations, including India, to support efforts to achieve enduring peace in Ukraine. Jean-Pierre stated, “We believe India’s long-standing relationship with Russia gives it the ability to urge President Putin to end his brutal, unprovoked war in Ukraine. It is for President Putin to end. President Putin started the war, and he can end the war.”
Jean-Pierre’s remarks came after PM Modi, during bilateral talks with President Putin, raised concerns about the loss of innocent lives, particularly children, in conflicts. Referring to a recent missile strike on a children’s hospital in Kyiv that killed 37 children, Modi expressed deep sorrow, stating, “Be it war, conflicts, terror attacks – everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is a loss of lives. But when innocent children are murdered, when we see innocent children dying, it is heart-wrenching. That pain is immense.”
Emphasizing the futility of battlefield solutions, PM Modi said, “As a friend, I have always said that for the bright future of our coming generations, peace is of utmost importance. But I also know that solutions are not possible on battlegrounds. Amid bombs, guns, and bullets, solutions and peace talks do not succeed. We will have to follow the path to peace only through talks.”
This was PM Modi’s first visit to Russia since the war between Moscow and Kyiv began in 2022. India has consistently advocated for “peace and diplomacy” to resolve the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed disappointment over PM Modi’s visit to Russia, terming it a “devastating blow to peace efforts.” Zelenskyy noted on social media platform X that on the same day, 37 people, including three children, were killed, and 170 others were injured in a missile strike on the largest children’s hospital in Kyiv.
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