Zelenskyy-PM Modi Phone Call; Briefs On Russian Attacks, Seeks Tighter Sanctions; Leaders to Meet in September
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a detailed phone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, briefing him on recent Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities and pushing for stronger sanctions against Moscow to curb its ability to finance the war. During the call, the two leaders agreed to hold a personal meeting at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September to further their dialogue.
Zelenskyy informed Modi about what he described as a deliberate Russian bombing of a bus station in Zaporizhzhia, which injured dozens of civilians. He expressed frustration that at a time when a diplomatic path to end the war seems possible, Russia is demonstrating only a “desire to continue the occupation and killings” rather than a readiness for a ceasefire.
The Ukrainian President thanked PM Modi for his support and stressed the importance of India’s backing for Kyiv’s peace efforts, asserting that any resolution must involve Ukraine’s direct participation. “Other formats will not deliver results,” Zelenskyy added.
A key focus of the discussion was the need for tighter international sanctions against Russia. Zelenskyy specifically noted that it is necessary to limit the export of Russian energy, particularly oil, to diminish Moscow’s financial capacity to continue the war. “It is important that every leader who has tangible leverage over Russia sends the corresponding signals to Moscow,” he stated.
Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s consistent call for an early and peaceful resolution to the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, assuring Zelenskyy that New Delhi remains committed to contributing to peace efforts in any way possible. The agreement for a face-to-face meeting in September marks a significant step in the diplomatic engagement between the two nations as they also plan to work on an exchange of official visits
