Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his “political support” in the ongoing conflict with Russia. 

The 44-year-old comedian-turned-president tweeted that he’d informed PM Modi of Ukraine’s plan of repelling Russia’s attack and how there are over 100,000 invaders on Ukrainian land. Zelenskyy sought Modi’s help at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), to stop “the aggressor together”. 

PM Modi expressed deep anguish at the loss of life and property over this ongoing conflict. He reiterated the call for an immediate cessation of violence and return to dialogue. At the same time, Modi expressed that India was willing to contribute to peace efforts in whatever way possible, PTI reported. 

Earlier, Modi had also spoken to the Russian president Vladimir Putin where he’d been briefed of the developments in Ukraine. 

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Even while the Ukrainian head of state urged PM Modi for help, Russia praised India’s stance of abstaining from the vital UNSC resolution on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Russian embassy in India tweeted, “Highly appreciate India’s independent and balanced position at the voting in the UNSC on February 25, 2022. In the spirit of the special and privileged strategic partnership Russia is committed to maintain close dialogue with India on the situation around Ukraine”. 

India explained its stance, saying that abstaining gave the country the option to reach out to all concerned parties and find a middle ground for resolving the crisis via dialogue and diplomacy, government sources told PTI. 

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Earlier, India’s neutral approach had drawn the ire of the Ukrainian envoy in the country, who said that Ukraine was tracking the steps taken by India amid Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia, and was not too pleased. 

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The UNSC resolution, today, demanded the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine and an immediate stop to the ongoing invasion. Russia vetoed it, preventing it from being passed. Apart from India, China, and the United Arab Emirates abstained from voting, while 11 countries cast their votes in favour of the proposal.