Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday, November 9, discussing the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, its humanitarian consequences and bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The conversation came a day before trilateral negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine and the United States were scheduled to begin in Abu Dhabi on November 10–11.
In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Modi said India remained committed to a peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy. He conveyed New Delhi’s readiness to contribute to efforts aimed at ending the conflict, while the two leaders also discussed ways to expand cooperation across various sectors.
Modi later shared details of the conversation on social media, saying he had thanked Zelenskyy for explaining Ukraine’s perspective on the conflict, its humanitarian dimensions and ongoing efforts to restore peace. He described the discussion as productive and reiterated India's commitment to supporting a peaceful settlement.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Zelenskyy briefed Modi on recent developments related to the conflict. The official statement did not disclose specific proposals discussed during the call or indicate whether India would take part in the upcoming negotiations.
The timing of the conversation places it ahead of a significant diplomatic engagement involving Moscow, Kyiv and Washington. The Abu Dhabi meeting is expected to focus on issues surrounding the conflict and regional security, with the three countries seeking to advance discussions on a possible settlement.
India has consistently advocated dialogue and diplomacy as the way to resolve the war. New Delhi has maintained communication with both Russian and Ukrainian leadership while offering support for diplomatic initiatives. Modi’s latest remarks reaffirm that position, without announcing any new mediation mechanism or specific peace proposal.
Beyond the conflict, the leaders also reviewed India-Ukraine bilateral cooperation and agreed to work towards strengthening ties. The government statement said discussions covered cooperation in various sectors but did not identify specific agreements or initiatives emerging from the call.
The conversation underscores India's continued diplomatic engagement with Kyiv as international efforts to address the conflict move into another round of negotiations. Attention will now turn to the Abu Dhabi discussions and whether they produce any progress towards reducing hostilities. India has reiterated its willingness to contribute, but the details of any future role remain unclear.
