G7 Summit: Ukraine President Zelensky and PM Narendra Modi first meeting in Hiroshima since Russian invasion.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had their first in-person meeting on the behalf of the G7 summit in Japan on Saturday. This meeting comes amidst the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

While Modi has refrained from directly condemning the invasion, he expressed India’s commitment to assisting in ending the war, stating that India would do “everything we can” to contribute. He emphasized that the conflict in Ukraine is not just an economic or political issue but a matter of humanity that impacts the entire world. 

Zelensky extended an invitation to Modi to join Ukraine’s peace efforts and work towards bringing an end to the war with Russia. Zelensky’s attendance at the G7 summit, confirmed by host country Japan only on Saturday morning, provides him with an opportunity to engage with member nations that firmly support Ukraine, such as Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He intends to seek continued military aid from these countries. 

Additionally, Zelensky aims to garner support for Ukraine’s vision of peace from leaders of other attending nations, including those that have not joined the West in imposing sanctions on Russia or have refrained from condemning Russia at the United Nations, such as India. Zelensky took to social media to share details of his interaction with Modi, highlighting their discussion on the peace formula and Ukraine’s need for mobile hospitals and demining support. 

Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra informed the media that Zelensky extended an invitation to Modi to visit Ukraine. Kwatra also stated that Modi conveyed India’s firm support for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward. Modi assured Zelensky of India’s continued humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine. 

During the G7 meeting, Modi indirectly addressed the commodities crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. He emphasized the need to overcome political obstacles in global fertilizer supply chains and advocated for natural farming as an alternative to traditional fertilizers. 

Modi stressed the importance of strengthening the fertilizer supply chain and preventing expansionist tendencies that seek to control fertilizer resources. He advocated for an inclusive food system and highlighted the impact of the Ukraine crisis on global fertilizer supplies. 

Prior to the meeting with Zelensky, Modi engaged with Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and unveiled a bronze bust of Mahatma Gandhi near the Motoyasu river in Hiroshima, the city that witnessed the first atomic bombing in history. He also held meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.