Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again called for a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, stressing that the conditions are now favorable for both nations to come to the negotiating table and end the three-year war.
Speaking on a podcast with American research scientist Lex Fridman, PM Modi underscored the importance of global stability and made it clear that rather than remaining neutral, he stands firmly for peace and harmony.
When asked by Fridman about his approach to peacemaking, PM Modi said that he represents the land of Lord Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi, whose teachings, words, actions, and behavior are dedicated to peace.
“That is why culturally and historically, our background is so strong that whenever we speak of peace, the world listens to us because India is the land of Gautam Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi, and Indians aren’t hardwired to espouse strife and conflict. We espouse harmony instead. We seek neither to wage war against nature nor to foster strife among nations. We stand for peace, and wherever we can act as peacemakers, we have gladly embraced that responsibility,” PM Modi said.
Speaking about India’s ties with Russia and Ukraine, the prime minister said, “I have a close relationship with both 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. 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.”
The PM highlighted that initially, it was challenging to find peace, but now a situation has emerged which “presents an opportunity for meaningful and productive talks between Ukraine and Russia.”
Underscoring how the impact of war has spilled onto the rest of the world, PM Modi said, “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.”
The PM reiterated his views and said, “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.”
PM Modi’s remarks to Lex Fridman come as progress is being made toward bringing peace to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. On Friday, US President Donald Trump said that he had “good and productive discussions” with Russian President Vladimir Putin and hinted that the Russia-Ukraine conflict could “finally come to an end.” Trump said that he “strongly requested” Putin to spare the lives of thousands of Ukrainian troops, or else it would be a “horrible massacre.”
PM Modi emphasized that for people, the prudent choice is to let go of conflict and move toward cooperation.
“I believe that modern wars are no longer just about resources or interests. Today I see so many kinds of conflicts happening. Physical battles often get discussed. Struggles are happening in every domain. International organizations that were once powerful have become almost irrelevant. No real reforms are happening. Institutions, like the UN, are failing to fulfill their role”, the PM said.
“People who disregard international laws and rules continue to act freely, and no one can stop them. In such situations, the prudent choice for everyone is to let go of conflict and move toward cooperation. A development-driven approach is the way forward. Expansionism will not work. As I’ve said before, the world is interdependent and interconnected. Every nation needs one another; no one can stand alone. And from all the different forums I attend, one thing is clear: Everyone is deeply worried about these conflicts. We can only hope that peace is restored very soon,” the PM added.
Lex Fridman’s podcasts have featured several personalities from various walks of life, discussing issues ranging from complex niches to other areas of mass understanding. Notable figures include political leaders like US President Donald Trump, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Argentinian Prime Minister Javier Milei, as well as leading personalities in their fields, such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sam Altman, Magnus Carlsen, and Yuval Noah Harari.
Fridman’s YouTube page has 4.8 million subscribers, with over 82,000,000 views.
