“Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UN Summit of the Future event in New York on Monday. PM Modi reiterated on India’s resolve to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict.

The situation in Ukraine as well as the way forward on pursuing peace was a key topic of their discussions. PM Modi stated that India remains open to provide all support within its means to facilitate a lasting and peaceful resolution of the conflict.

“We are committed to implementing the outcomes of my visit to Ukraine last month to strengthen bilateral relations. Reiterated India’s support for early resolution of the conflict in Ukraine and restoration of peace and stability” he wrote in a post on X.

This was the third meeting between the two leaders in about three months. The leaders earlier met in Kyiv on August 23 when Modi visited Ukraine, and in June at the G7 Summit held in Italy’s Apulia region. The efforts for peace were also underscored by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval’s visit to Russia earlier this month.

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, responded by saying that he was “grateful for the clear support of our sovereignty and territorial integrity”.

“This is already the third bilateral meeting this year with the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. We are actively developing our relations and working together to strengthen cooperation across various fields,” said Zelenskyy on X.

Zelenskyy said that the main focus of the conversation was to enhance their interaction on international platforms and preparing for second peace summit while implementing the Peace Formula.

“The main focus of our conversation was on enhancing our interaction on international platforms… We had a substantiative discussion on the available opportunities.”

– Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Summit of the Future

The meeting concluded PM Modi’s three-day visit to the US, which included the Quad Summit hosted by US President Joe Biden at his hometown in Wilmington, USA, and the United Nations General Assembly in New York. PM Modi delivered a speech at UN’s “Summit of the Future” event after addressing the Indian diaspora in New York.

“Success of Humanity lies in our collective strength, not in the battlefield. And for global peace and development, reforms in global institutions are essential. Reform is the key to relevance!”

-PM Modi

He also emphasized the importance of a “human-centric” approach while discussing peace and the world’s future. “While prioritizing sustainable development, we must also ensure human welfare, food and health security. By lifting 250 million people out of poverty in India, we have demonstrated that Sustainable Development can be successful. And we are ready to share this experience of our success with the entire Global South,” said the Indian Prime Minister.

PM Modi also declared India’s decision to share its Digital Public Interface with the world to further accelerate development and digital growth. “There is a need for balanced regulation for the safe and responsible use of Technology. We need global digital governance, which ensures that national sovereignty and integrity are upheld,” he said.

“Digital Public Infrastructure should be a Bridge, not a Barrier!”

-PM Modi during Summit of the Future.

At the Summit of the Future, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future, a declaration which pledged concrete actions towards a safer, sustainable, and a more peaceful and inclusive world for tomorrow’s generations.

The Pact’s five broad focus areas include: sustainable development; international peace and security; science and technology; youth and future generations and transforming global governance.

The Pact encompasses a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations, highlighting the international community’s dedication to tackling current challenges and securing a brighter future for everyone.

PM Modi’s US visit concludes

PM Modi’s three-day visit to the US started with the Quad Summit hosted by US President Joe Biden at his hometown in Wilmington, USA. He held bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan.

PM Modi’s visit also included a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas where he expressed “deep concern” over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He reaffirmed India’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people, underscoring India’s commitment to addressing the challenges faced in the region.  

PM Modi also participated in a roundtable talk on Sunday with CEOs of US-based companies, which included Google CEO Sundar Pichai, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang and IBM’s Arvind Krishna among others. The discussions were aimed at enhancing cooperation between India and the US in cutting-edge technologies such as AI, quantum computing and semiconductors. PM Modi emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two countries to regulate technology and AI advancements.