New Delhi: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday (August 30) that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was ready to convey a signal to Russia that “the end of this war must begin with an immediate ceasefire”, ahead of Modi’s planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin two days later.Modi arrived in Tianjin on Saturday evening for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, his first visit to China in seven years. His most important meetings are on the sidelines, with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday (August 31) and with Putin on Monday (Saturday 1) before returning to India.In his post after the call, Zelenskyy said he briefed Modi on his talks in Washington with US President Donald Trump and European leaders, which he described as “a productive and important conversation” with a shared vision on achieving “real peace.”He stressed that Ukraine remained ready for talks with Russia but accused Moscow of showing “no positive signal” in nearly two weeks, instead carrying out “cynical strikes on civilian targets” that killed dozens. “It is impossible to speak meaningfully about peace while our cities and communities are under constant fire,” he wrote, adding that he was grateful for Modi’s condolences to the families of the victims.On August 28, Russia unleashed one of its deadliest drone and missile bombardments of Kyiv since the Alaska summit. As per media reports, at least 23 civilians, including children, were killed in the attacks in Kyiv which destroyed residential buildings and damaged EU and British Council offices. A similar assault struck Zaporizhzhia on Saturday, killing one civilian and injuring 24 more, including three children.“We coordinated our positions ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit,” Zelenskyy wrote. “India is ready to make the necessary efforts and to deliver the appropriate signal to Russia and other leaders during the meetings on the sidelines of the summit.”The push for a ceasefire has also become more complicated since Trump’s August 15 Alaska summit with Putin. Trump, who had initially pressed for an immediate ceasefire at that meeting, dropped the demand when he later met Zelenskyy and European leaders in Washington.Russia has instead sought a more comprehensive settlement, tying a ceasefire to political terms such as limiting Ukraine’s Western ties and territorial concessions. Kyiv has rejected those conditions, insisting that no meaningful negotiations are possible while attacks continue and warning that peace cannot be imposed “about Ukraine without Ukraine”. There is also no sign of a meeting in which Putin and Zelensky are at the same table.Modi, in his post, confirmed that the two leaders exchanged views on the conflict and “its humanitarian aspect,” while also reviewing “efforts to restore peace and stability.” He added that “India extends full support to all efforts in this direction.” His statement, however, did not go into any further detail about the discussions.Zelenskyy also wrote they discussed strengthening bilateral relations, preparations for an exchange of visits, and holding a meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission, noting there was “potential we can realise” and that he would be glad to meet Modi “in the near future.”The Indian leader had last spoken to Zelenskyy on August 11, but this was their first conversation since the Ukrainian president travelled to Washington with European leaders to meet Trump after the Alaska summit with Putin. The Russian President had also spoken to his close partners, including India, before and after his visit to Alaska.Meanwhile, the US has stepped up pressure on India over its imports of Russian oil, imposing a penalty tariff that has pushed overall duties on Indian goods to 50 percent. India is the second-largest buyer of Russian crude, but it is the only importer of Russian energy to be targeted by Washington. A senior Trump aide recently described New Delhi as a “laundromat” for Kremlin supplies.External affairs minister S. Jaishankar also raised the issue in a call with Finnish foreign minister Elina Valtonen on Saturday, saying the Ukraine conflict should not be used to “unfairly” target India. “Our discussions centred around the Ukraine conflict and its ramifications. India should not be unfairly targeted in that context. We have always advocated dialogue and diplomacy,” he posted.Valtonen, in her own tweet on the call, said they discussed Russia’s war against Ukraine and the trade potential between Finland, the EU and India. “We strive for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine – which requires more pressure on Putin to engage in real negotiations,” she wrote.