Zelensky praises India's peace efforts; Russian envoy claims 'ball in Ukraine's court'

On September 3, 2026, Zelensky met with India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Kyiv. During the meeting, Zelensky expressed gratitude for India's peace initiatives, stating that India clearly supports bringing peace to Ukraine. The meeting was reported by Ukrinform and ukrinform.net, both citing Zelensky's remarks. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also participated in the discussions, advocating for a shift to diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict with Russia. Sybiha's comments were reported by Asian News International, which also noted Russian Ambassador Alipov's claim that Russia and India are 'on the same page' regarding peace. Alipov stated that the 'ball is in Ukraine's court', implying that Ukraine must take the lead in pursuing peace. The event highlights the growing diplomatic engagement between Ukraine and India, with both nations emphasizing the need for peace. However, the Russian perspective, as conveyed by Alipov, suggests a different interpretation of the situation, framing Ukraine as the primary actor in the peace process.