CNN
 — 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Japan Saturday – as he makes use of his arrival in Hiroshima not solely to satisfy Kyiv’s backers however to woo leaders from the Global South.

The in-person assembly was the primary between the 2 leaders since Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine some 15 months in the past, and came about hours after Zelensky made a dramatic arrival on the three-day summit of the world’s industrialized democracies.

Zelensky’s in particular person attendance on the G7 – unconfirmed by host nation Japan till simply Saturday morning – provides the wartime chief the chance to satisfy with the member nations who already squarely again Ukraine – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States – and press them for continued army support.

But it additionally provides Zelenksy an opportunity to hunt assist for Ukraine and its imaginative and prescient for peace with leaders from a handful of different nations additionally attending the summit – a few of which haven’t joined the West in leveraging sanctions towards Russia or these, like India, which have refused to sentence Russia on the United Nations.

India is traditionally a serious purchaser of Russian weaponry and has long-standing ties to Moscow. It has additionally ramped up purchases of Russian power – offering a key financial lifeline to chief Vladimir Putin’s authorities, even because the West slaps intensive controls on this key income supply.

Though New Delhi has despatched humanitarian support to Ukraine all through the course of the battle, it has abstained from UN resolutions calling for its withdrawal and condemning its invasion.

Winning assist or understanding from leaders like Modi could possibly be a key motivation additionally driving Zelensky to attend the G7, analysts have mentioned. Other collaborating nations embody Indonesia, Australia, Brazil, Korea, and Vietnam.

In Modi’s case, shut ties to Russia may imply the potential to each leverage strain on Putin, or maintain his economic system going.

Last yr, Modi spoke to Putin of the necessity to “move onto a path of peace” throughout a face-to-face with the Russian chief on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Uzbekistan in September, in response to a readout from the Indian aspect – considered on the time as an indication of impatience from New Delhi because the battle dragged on.

But months later the Indian chief has appeared dedicated to strolling a cautious line, neither explicitly condemning the Kremlin or calling for its withdrawal from Russian territory.

Modi has spoken with Zelensky over the cellphone a number of instances since Russia’s invasion, most not too long ago in December, the place the Indian chief reiterated his name for the “cessation of hostilities” and “dialogue” to resolve the battle.

Zelensky’s peace plan, in distinction, requires the restoration of Ukraine’s internationally acknowledged borders and the withdrawal of Russian troops.

Western leaders have criticized requires a ceasefire that don’t additionally embody a withdrawal of Russia troops, saying they’re tantamount to serving to Moscow solidify the territory it has annexed.

In a joint communique launched Saturday, the G7 leaders “condemned in the strongest possible terms” Russia’s battle and reiterated G7 assist for Ukraine for “as long as it takes.”

Zelensky additionally attended the Arab League summit in Saudi Arabia on Friday, the place he urged sympathy from leaders in Saudi Arabia who “turn a blind eye” to the battle in Ukraine.

At the G7, Zelensky is scheduled to sit down down with leaders from G7 member international locations, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, in addition to take part in a bigger session on peace and stability together with different invited nations, Japan mentioned Saturday.