In a strategic move, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky engaged in a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the fringes of the Group of Seven (G7) summit held in Japan. The encounter occurred on Saturday and marked their first face-to-face interaction since Russia initiated its aggressive military invasion of Ukraine about a year and a quarter ago.
Zelensky’s participation in the G7, which was only officially confirmed by the Japanese hosts on Saturday morning, serves as a platform to confer with members who have demonstrated unambiguous support for Ukraine. These include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US, and Zelensky is likely to seek further military assistance from them.
However, his presence at the summit also offers an opportunity to court the backing of a few other nations present at the summit. Some of these nations have refrained from aligning with the West in imposing sanctions on Russia, while others, such as India, have declined to denounce Russia at the United Nations.
India, with its historic links to Moscow and status as a significant buyer of Russian arms and energy, has the potential to exert influence on Putin or continue supporting his economy. Despite this, New Delhi has offered humanitarian aid to Ukraine during the conflict but abstained from supporting UN resolutions that demand Russia’s withdrawal and condemn its invasion.
Experts suggest that Zelensky’s decision to attend the G7 may be spurred by the potential of winning over leaders such as Modi. Other countries participating in the summit include Indonesia, Australia, Brazil, Korea, and Vietnam.
Although Modi advocated for the path of peace during a meeting with Putin last year, he has since maintained a cautious stance, refraining from overtly criticizing the Kremlin or calling for its withdrawal from Russian territory.
Zelensky’s peace proposal, conversely, calls for the recognition of Ukraine’s borders and the removal of Russian troops, which starkly contrasts Modi’s appeals for “dialogue” and “cessation of hostilities”.
G7 leaders, in a collective communique issued on Saturday, sternly denounced Russia’s actions and pledged sustained support for Ukraine.
In addition to engaging with G7 member country leaders, Zelensky is set to participate in a broader session focused on peace and stability, involving other invitees, according to an announcement made by Japan on Saturday.
Zelensky also attended the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia the previous day, where he attempted to secure empathy from leaders who have largely ignored the conflict in Ukraine.
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