Huge Disappointment...": Ukraine President Reacts To PM Modi's Russia Visit

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reacted sharply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's brief visit to Russia and his interaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) Mr Zelenskyy referred to Russia's attack Monday 8 July in which at least 37 people, including three children, were killed after a missile strike on a children's hospital in Kyiv. The strike also damaged nearly 100 buildings, including schools and maternity hospitals. His tweet included photographs of the bombed hospital and babies in ambulances.

Mr Zelenskky's post came after Prime Minister Modi met President Putin in Moscow and shared an embrace. Visuals from their meeting showed the two leaders drinking tea on a terrace at Mr Putin's home in Novo-Ogaryovo outside Moscow, and Mr Modi being driven around in a golf cart. And the Ukraine President was particularly critical of that image, posting, "It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world's largest democracy hug the world's most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day...”. 

This is the Prime Minister's first visit since he was voted back to power last month. It is also his first to Russia since the war in Ukraine began.

Ever since the war began India has maintained it can only be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, and the Prime Minister has said "India is ready to contribute to any peace efforts".