New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday emerged as the single-largest party in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, clinching 240 seats, and looks set to form the government along with its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). As the results were declared, many foreign leaders congratulated PM Modi. These included Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Congratulating PM Modi on X, Zelenskyy said the "world recognises the significance, weight of India's role in global affairs".
"I welcome the successful holding of the world’s largest democratic elections in India. Congratulations to Prime Minister @NarendraModi, the BJP, and BJP-led NDA on the third consecutive victory in India's parliamentary elections," he added. "I wish the people of India peace and prosperity, and I hope for continued cooperation between our countries."
Zelenskyy, whose country is currently engaged in a war with Russia, said "India and Ukraine share common values and a rich history".
"May our partnership continue to thrive, bringing progress and mutual understanding for our nations," he added. "It is critical that we all work together to ensure a just peace for all nations. In this regard, we also look forward to seeing India attend the Peace Summit."
The 'Peace Summit' Zelenskyy referred to is a two-day event being hosted by Switzerland to mobilise international consensus on ending the war, which has been going on since 2022.
According to Switzerland's Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, "the aim of that heads of state and government meeting, is to develop a common understanding of a path towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. This should be the basis for a peace process."
India will be among the participants at the event.
Switzerland has reportedly invited over 160 delegations from around the world to join "the first Summit on Peace in Ukraine on 15-16 June 2024 at the Bürgenstock resort". Russia, the department said in a Q&A section, "has not been invited at this stage... as it has said repeatedly and also publicly that it has no interest in participating in this first Summit".
"Switzerland is convinced that Russia must be involved in this process. A peace process without Russia is unthinkable," it added.