Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday. During the discussion, both leaders deliberated on the recent developments surrounding the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and explored ways to further strengthen bilateral relations between India and Ukraine. Throughout the conversation, President Zelenskyy shared his perspective regarding the recent developments in the ongoing armed struggle. In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India's steadfast human-centric approach, emphasizing that the resolution of this conflict must be found exclusively through dialogue and diplomacy.
The Prime Minister made it clear that India remains fully prepared to contribute to all earnest efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution to this conflict. He reiterated India's consistent stance on the paramount importance of talks and diplomatic efforts in establishing long-lasting peace. On top of that, keeping mutual interests in view, both leaders held detailed deliberations on measures to further bolster bilateral cooperation between India and Ukraine across various sectors. A mutual agreement was reached to enhance cooperative efforts for the collective benefit of the people of both nations.
This high-level diplomatic phone call took place against the backdrop of a fierce missile attack launched by Russia early Saturday morning in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. According to reports, the overnight attacks resulted in at least nine injuries, including one child. The strikes caused extensive damage to numerous residential buildings and commercial establishments. On top of that, essential public services such as electricity and water supplies were severely disrupted. This alarming attack occurred at a critical time when Ukraine is preparing for fresh rounds of talks with Russia and the United States scheduled for next week, with the ultimate objective of bringing the prolonged war to an end.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued an official statement on Saturday revealing that Russia fired a staggering 36 ballistic missiles overnight targeting Kyiv and its surrounding areas. In addition to the missile strikes, aggressive attacks were carried out using 172 drones across Kyiv and 12 other regions of Ukraine. These combined assaults resulted in injuries to nine people, including a young child. President Zelenskyy strongly accused Russia of deliberately targeting vital critical infrastructure while simultaneously preparing for upcoming trilateral negotiations. Russian missiles precisely targeted multiple locations within Kyiv, inflicting severe damage on residential complexes and commercial properties.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko informed the media that critical energy infrastructure installations located in the Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions sustained heavy damage. The city's water supply management system was also severely impacted by the onslaught. Following the massive strikes, security authorities took precautionary measures and closed the 816 meter long Northern Bridge, which serves as a major connection for large residential neighborhoods situated on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River. The relentless explosions and attacks triggered widespread panic and terror among local residents, completely disrupting the sleep of young children.
During the harrowing attack, 64-year-old Kateryna Korniychuk was inside her home alongside her granddaughter. She recounted her traumatic experience to The Associated Press, stating that the shockwaves and intense vibration from the initial explosion hurled her and her family members directly against the wall. She described the ordeal by saying that the shock and vibration from the very first blast slammed them into one wall and then hurled them straight into another because they were huddled inside the corridor, while she expressed her anguish, noting how difficult the situation is, with neither sleep nor peace remaining. Children can't sleep and neither can the adults. She expressed helplessness as an elderly person who can endure it, while questioning the fault of innocent children.
Amidst ongoing military hostilities and escalating tensions, significant diplomatic momentum is building up. Negotiators representing Russia, Ukraine, and the United States are scheduled to meet in a face-to-face session on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. This upcoming session will mark the fourth round of trilateral negotiations aimed explicitly at bringing the devastating war to an end. Notably, the administration of US President Donald Trump is actively mediating these high-stakes discussions, drawing intense global attention to the impending diplomatic talks.