Ahead of the US-brokered two-day peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi starting Tuesday, India on Monday reached out to the top political leadership in Kyiv and Moscow. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

In a post on X after his phone call with Modi, Zelenskyy said they discussed “Russia’s blocking of grain exports via the Black Sea” and added that India was ready to “mediate in establishing food corridors”.

This is the first time Zelenskyy has spoken out on the Indian proposal to broker a ceasefire in the Black Sea, which has witnessed attacks on Ukrainian grain exports.

In a post on X, Modi said he “reiterated India’s firm commitment to contributing in every possible way towards a peaceful resolution”.

“Glad to have had a productive telephone conversation with President Zelenskyy.…