Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said that countries like India and China can play a role in resolving the conflict in Ukraine. Ms. Meloni’s remarks came less than 48 hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin also acknowledged India’s efforts in addressing the ongoing crisis. The Italian Prime Minister made these comments following her meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the Ambrosetti Forum in Cernobbio, northern Italy, yesterday. During their meeting, the two leaders discussed the latest developments on the ground and Ukraine’s most pressing needs as winter approaches.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kyiv last month during which he conveyed to Mr Zelenskyy that both Ukraine and Russia should sit together without wasting time to end the ongoing war and that India is ready to play an active role to restore peace in the region. Mr Modi said India has been on the side of peace since the beginning of the conflict and he would even like to contribute personally for a peaceful resolution of the crisis. Mr Modi’s visit to Ukraine on August 23, the first by an Indian prime minister since its independence in 1991, came six weeks after he held summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.