India's Modi pleads with Putin to speak to Zelenskyy after Western leaders 'expressed disgust' in Russia support

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged Vladimir Putin to speak to Voldomyr Zelenskyy during a meeting with the Russian President on Monday.

On Monday, Mr Modi told Mr Putin that discussions with Mr Zelenskyy “may greatly assist the ongoing peace efforts”, his office said in a statement.

The Indian Prime Minister also spoke with Mr Zelenskyy, expressing “deep concern about the ongoing conflict and resultant humanitarian crisis."

He went on to thank Ukrainian authorities after they successfully evacuated in excess of more than 20,000 Indian citizens from Ukraine following the beginning of the war.

Despite the vast numbers who have already been evacuated, hundreds still remain stranded in Sumy, northeast Ukraine.

This is somewhat of a U-turn by Mr Modi, who attracted “widespread disgust” after choosing to abstain from a UN vote condemning Russia’s attack on Ukraine on Wednesday.

A total of 141 of the 193 UN member states voted for a resolution which publicly deplored Russia’s and Putin’s invasion.

The invasion has entered its twelfth day on Monday, with air strikes continuing to hit many areas across the country.

Russian authorities are struggling to capture the capital, Kyiv as Ukrainians continue to hold firm.

Both parties entered a third round of ceasefire talks near the Belarusian border on Monday.