Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking on the Lex Fridman Podcast, reiterated his call for diplomacy in resolving the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. He stated that he had conveyed to Russian President Vladimir Putin that “this is not the time for war” and advised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that battlefield victories would not lead to a lasting resolution.
“I have a close relationship with Russia and Ukraine alike,” PM Modi said. “I can sit with President Putin and say that this is not the time for war. And I can also tell President Zelensky, 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.”
“Ukraine may hold countless discussions with their allies, but it will bear no fruit. Discussions must include both parties instead,” he added.
The Kremlin confirmed today that Russia and the United States had discussed “next steps” to end the war, following renewed diplomatic efforts. Hours earlier, Kyiv’s European allies had urged Moscow to commit to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. The United States had pushed for the ceasefire after talks in Saudi Arabia, which Ukraine accepted.
The podcast host, Lex Fridman, has been a research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) since 2015. His YouTube channel, The Lex Fridman Podcast, has over 4.5 million subscribers and close to 820 million views.
