On Russia-Ukraine war, why PM Modi said he’s ‘not neutral’ | India News

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke about the Russia-Ukraine war and said that India is “not neutral” in the conflict while reiterating that it stands “with peace”.
“I have a close relationship with Russia and Ukraine alike. I can sit with President Putin and say that this is not the time for war, and I can also tell President Zelenskyy in a friendly way that brother, regardless of how many people stand with you in the world, there will never be a resolution on the battlefield,” PM Modi said.

He further said that discussions should involve both countries directly, rather than Ukraine only consulting its allies.
“The resolution will only come when both Ukraine and Russia come to the negotiating table. Ukraine may hold countless discussions with their allies, but it will bear no fruit. Discussions must include both parties instead,” he said in a podcast with Lex Fridman.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s podcast with MIT scientist and AI researcher Lex Fridman was released on Sunday.

PM Modi also said that the current situation offers a chance for productive discussions between the two countries.
“Initially, it was challenging to find peace, but now the current situation presents an opportunity for meaningful and productive talks between Ukraine and Russia. There has been a lot of suffering. Even the global south has suffered. The world has been grappling with a food, fuel, and fertilizer crisis. So the global community should unite in the pursuit of peace. As for me, I have always maintained that I stand with peace. I am not neutral. I have a stance, and that is peace, and peace is what I strive for,” he said.
Also read- ‘Feel blessed to have gained life’s purpose from RSS’: PM Modi on Lex Fridman podcast
Lex Fridman is a research scientist who also hosts the “Lex Fridman Podcast.”
His podcast features discussions with people from different fields on a wide range of topics.
Some of the guests have included political leaders such as US President Donald Trump, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Argentinian Prime Minister Javier Milei. Other guests include Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sam Altman, Magnus Carlsen, and Yuval Noah Harari.
Fridman wrote on X, “I had an epic 3-hour podcast conversation with @narendramodi, Prime Minister of India. It was one of the most powerful conversations of my life. It’ll be out tomorrow.”
PM Modi responded by calling it a “fascinating conversation” and mentioned that he spoke about different phases of his life, including his childhood, time in the Himalayas, and journey into public life.
“It was indeed a fascinating conversation with @lexfridman, covering diverse topics including reminiscing about my childhood, the years in the Himalayas, and the journey in public life. Do tune in and be a part of this dialogue!” PM Modi wrote on X.
Earlier in February, Fridman described PM Modi as “one of the most fascinating human beings I have ever studied.”