India’s Modi offers help in peace efforts over Ukraine crisis

NEW DELHI REUTERS Feb 26   
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday offered to help in peace efforts in the Ukraine crisis, during a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.   

 Modi expressed his “deep anguish about the loss of life and property due to the ongoing conflict” while reiterating his call for an immediate cessation of violence and a return to dialogue, a government statement said.   
 Modi said India was willing “to contribute in any way towards peace efforts”, while Zelenskiy briefed him about the conflict situation in Ukraine, the statement said.   

 On Friday, India along with China and United Arab Emirates abstained from voting for a U.N. Security Council resolution to deplore Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, drawing criticism in the West but praise from Moscow with which it has long standing defence ties.   

 In the past, India depended on Russia’s support and its veto power in the U.N. security council in its dispute over Kashmir with its longtime rival Pakistan.