Modi urges putin, zelenskyy to talk peace

Prime minister Narendra Modi laid it bare on 16 March 2025, telling American podcaster Lex Fridman that the Ukraine war—three years deep since Russia’s invasion—won’t end with guns blazing. “I’d sit with president Putin and say it’s not the time for war,” he said, his tone steady. “I’d tell president Zelenskyy, brother, no matter how many stand with you, the battlefield won’t solve this.” It’s a nudge from a man who calls both leaders friends, aired on a Sunday podcast that’s got X humming.

He’s doubling down on talks, not trenches. “Discussions must include both parties,” Modi stressed, brushing off Ukraine’s ally huddles as fruitless. Last year, he zipped to Russia twice—summits with Putin—and made a historic hop to Kyiv, meeting Zelenskyy. “Initially, peace was tough, but now’s the chance for real talks,” he told Fridman. Picture him sipping chai, recalling those trips, betting India’s voice can coax the two to a table. Meanwhile, Trump’s pushing a 30-day ceasefire—Zelenskyy’s in, Putin’s mulling with caveats.

This isn’t new for Modi—India’s been chanting “not the time for war” since 2022. He sees a window now, with Putin and Zelenskyy under global eyes and Trump dialing them up. “Resolution only comes when both sit down,” he said, a line that feels personal after his Ukraine dash—the first by an Indian leader since 1991. Could his “brother” call to Zelenskyy or fireside chat with Putin shift the stalemate? The war’s a stubborn beast, but Modi’s words ripple far.