Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his gratitude to world leaders including Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their efforts to mediate peace in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. In his first public remarks on the US's 30-day Ukraine ceasefire proposal, Putin acknowledged the role of key global leaders in advocating for peace. Speaking at a joint press briefing alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin commended Trump, Modi, and several other leaders for dedicating time and attention to the Ukraine conflict. "As for Ukraine's readiness for a ceasefire, I will tell you how I view it, of course. But I would like to start by thanking the President of the United States, Mr. Trump, for paying so much attention to the Ukraine settlement. We all have enough of our own domestic affairs to attend to," Putin told reporters.
 

He went on to add, "Many leaders of states, among them the President of the People's Republic of China, the Prime Minister of India, the Presidents of Brazil and the Republic of South Africa are addressing this issue and giving it a lot of their time. We are grateful to all of them for that because this activity is aimed at achieving a noble mission - the mission of ending hostilities and loss of life." Putin’s comments came after his meeting with Donald Trump at the White House last month, where PM Narendra Modi reiterated India's stance on the Russia-Ukraine war. During the meeting, Modi firmly stated that India is not neutral but stands firmly on the "side of peace". "India is not neutral. India is on the side of peace. This is not an era of war. A solution can't be found on the battlefield," Modi emphasized. He further added, "We support all peace initiatives and fully back Trump's initiative to end the war."
 

Since the war began in February 2022, PM Modi has consistently advocated for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict. Modi has held multiple discussions with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin, reinforcing India's position on a peaceful resolution. During the 22nd India-Russia bilateral summit in July 2024, Modi met with Putin in Moscow to emphasize India's willingness to play an active role in fostering peace. In August 2024, Modi also visited Ukraine, further strengthening India's diplomatic engagement in conflict resolution efforts.While Putin has agreed to the US's 30-day ceasefire proposal, he has outlined multiple conditions and emphasized the need to address the root causes of the conflict. Putin's decision reportedly followed pressure from the US, especially after recent negotiation talks between Washington and Kyiv in Saudi Arabia.
 

In response to Putin’s comments regarding the ceasefire terms, Trump expressed optimism that Russia would "do the right thing" in achieving peace. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Putin’s stance, suggesting that the Russian President appeared hesitant to reject the ceasefire terms directly and was instead adopting a cautious tone to avoid clashing with Trump. The diplomatic developments mark a significant moment in global efforts to bring stability to the war-torn region. With Modi’s firm commitment to peace, Trump's active involvement, and Putin’s cautious approach to ceasefire terms, the international community remains watchful of how the situation unfolds. As Ukraine proceeds with negotiations and Russia’s conditions are reviewed, world leaders are hopeful that the ceasefire will pave the way for long-term peace in the region.