After EU leaders, PM Modi discusses early end to Ukraine conflict with French Prez Macron

In a post on X, Modi wrote: “We reviewed and positively assessed the progress in bilateral cooperation in various areas. Exchanged views on international and regional issues, including efforts for bringing an early end to the conflict in Ukraine. The India-France Strategic Partnership will continue to play a key role in fostering global peace and stability.”

Macron also briefed Modi on the outcome of last week’s meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Coalition of the Willing—a grouping of 31 nations, including France and the UK, that aims to strengthen Ukraine’s position against Russia.

With Modi’s long-standing ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, European leaders have increasingly sought New Delhi’s engagement over the war.

Just a day earlier, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen underscored India’s pivotal role in “bringing Russia to end its war of aggression and helping create a path towards peace.”

This comes amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s own push to mediate, first by inviting Putin to Alaska, followed by hosting Zelenskyy along with leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and the EU at the White House.

Against this backdrop, India has surfaced as an alternative diplomatic channel for the West, reinforced by Putin’s acknowledgment of New Delhi’s contribution to peace efforts during the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China.

Zelenskyy had also reached out to Modi shortly before Modi’s meeting with Putin at the SCO gathering, later describing their dialogue as a “productive and important conversation” aimed at achieving “real peace.”

The SCO summit itself displayed warm optics between Putin and Modi, with both leaders arriving hand-in-hand and later sharing a ride together.

Instead of the planned 15-minute journey from the summit venue to the Ritz-Carlton Hotel for their bilateral talks, they spent 45 minutes together—drawing attention from Western observers.

Putin later disclosed, “There is no secret. I told him what we (Putin and Trump) talked about in Alaska.”