Russia has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping offered to help facilitate peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine during their meetings on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the willingness expressed by the Indian and Chinese leaders to contribute to efforts to end the conflict, Reuters reported.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The development comes as US President Donald Trump’s attempts to broker a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine have so far failed to produce a breakthrough. Efforts to revive negotiations have remained stalled despite continued diplomatic engagement.
Russia’s welcome for India’s willingness to contribute to peace efforts is not entirely new. New Delhi has repeatedly maintained that dialogue and diplomacy are the way forward in resolving the conflict, while stressing the need for a peaceful settlement.
The comments also come against the backdrop of a high-profile meeting between Modi, Xi and Putin at the BRICS Summit. The three leaders were seen together during the summit, with images of them smiling and holding hands drawing considerable attention.
The interaction between the leaders of India, China and Russia was viewed by analysts as a display of closer engagement among three major powers at a time of growing geopolitical tensions and divisions in the international order.
Modi has previously spoken in favour of a diplomatic resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. India has maintained its position of engaging with both sides and has repeatedly called for dialogue and diplomacy rather than a military solution.
China, too, has sought to position itself as a potential player in efforts to resolve the conflict, while maintaining close ties with Moscow.
Putin’s response to the reported offer from Modi and Xi could add another layer to ongoing international efforts to bring Russia and Ukraine back to the negotiating table.
For now, however, there is no indication that a fresh round of substantive peace negotiations has been agreed upon. The latest development instead highlights the growing interest of major powers, including India and China, in finding a diplomatic pathway to end the war.
