Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to negotiate with Russia when he visited Kyiv on Friday.
In the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister since Ukraine gained independence in 1991, Mr Modi offered to act as a “friend” to facilitate talks between the nations who have been at war for almost two and a half years.
“The road to resolution can only be found through dialogue and diplomacy,” Mr Modi said. “And we should move in that direction without wasting any time. Both sides should sit together to find a way out of this crisis.
“I want to assure you that India is ready to play an active role in any efforts towards peace. If I can play any role in this personally, I will do that, I want to assure you as a friend.”
The meeting came six weeks after Mr Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, which Mr Zelenskyy said had dealt a “devastating blow to peace efforts”.
The same day, Russian bombing killed at least 41 people, including at a children's hospital in Kyiv, leading to global outrage over Moscow’s military aggression against Ukraine.
It was not immediately clear how Ukrainian officials responded to Mr Modi's offer to mediate. Both leaders called his visit, following a 10-hour overnight journey on the Ukrainian Rail Force One train, “historic”.
Together they honoured the memory of children killed in the war with Russia, which began in February 2022, at the Martyrologist Exposition.
“I was deeply hurt today when I visited [the Martyrologist Exposition] on children at the National Museum of History,” Mr Modi said. “I feel that innocent children are the first casualties of war.”
The Indian Prime Minister, 73, was pictured with his hand on 46-year-old Mr Zelenskyy's shoulder as they viewed images of children killed.
More than 10,000 civilians and 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in the war that entered its 912th day on Friday. More than 20,000 people have been injured, according to UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.
Mr Modi and Mr Zelenskyy later held bilateral talks at Mariinsky Palace, the official residence of the Ukrainian President.
They also signed four agreements on co-operation in agriculture, the food industry, medicine, culture and humanitarian assistance, officials said.
India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said Mr Modi had stressed “India's willingness to contribute in all ways possible”.
“The Prime Minister also discussed his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin,” Mr Jaishankar told the media.
“It is India's view that the two sides need to engage with each other to find a solution.”
Commentators say Mr Modi’s visit is an attempt by New Delhi to placate its western partners, who have failed to push India to condemn Moscow over its military campaign in Ukraine.
India is a long-time partner of Russia, and New Delhi has sought to continue its relationship with Moscow despite the US and western countries urging nations to sever ties and threatening sanctions for trade relations in some sectors.
India has repeatedly abstained from voting on the western-backed resolutions at the UN.
“Developing countries, including India, are adversely impacted in a big way. Therefore, ending this conflict is important. That is what Mr Modi will try to do,” Anil Trigunayat, a former Indian diplomat, told The National.
Mr Trigunayat said Mr Modi’s privileged relationship with Mr Putin and his talks with the president could contribute to a ceasefire.
During his meeting with Mr Putin, Mr Modi had emphasised “peace through talks” saying that “solutions are not possible on the battlefield”.
“India has a special and privileged strategic partnership with President Putin and India has not condemned Russia and [has] maintained contacts, so they understand India has a special position,” Mr Trigunayat said.
“Mr Modi met Zelenskyy first, and the European, American leaders. Then he met Putin, and now he's going to talk to Zelenskyy finally.
“There is war fatigue on both sides. Maybe he'll come up with some solution, or an idea he can give on the basis of which some kind of a negotiation can happen, and possibly a ceasefire,” Mr Trigunayat said.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
the pledge
I pledge to uphold the duty of tolerance
I pledge to take a first stand against hate and injustice
I pledge to respect and accept people whose abilities, beliefs and culture are different from my own
I pledge to wish for others what I wish for myself
I pledge to live in harmony with my community
I pledge to always be open to dialogue and forgiveness
I pledge to do my part to create peace for all
I pledge to exercise benevolence and choose kindness in all my dealings with my community
I pledge to always stand up for these values: Zayed's values for tolerance and human fraternity
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Written World: How Literature Shaped History
Martin Puchner
Granta
The specs
A4 35 TFSI
Engine: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed S-tronic automatic
Power: 150bhp
Torque: 270Nm
Price: Dh150,000 (estimate)
On sale: First Q 2020
A4 S4 TDI
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
Power: 350bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh165,000 (estimate)
On sale: First Q 2020
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
