Putin and Modi discuss Ukraine, armed mutiny in phone call

MOSCOW/NEW DELHI - Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation around Ukraine and how

Moscow had resolved an armed mercenary mutiny

in a telephone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, the Kremlin and New Delhi said.

Moscow said that Mr Modi had expressed support for what the Kremlin called the Russian leadership’s decisive actions in handling the mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group on June 23.

The Indian government said Mr Putin, who will also join Mr Modi on Tuesday for a virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, informed the Prime Minister about the recent developments in Russia during their conversation.

The call comes after the United States and India declared themselves “among the closest partners in the world” last week during a state visit to Washington by Mr Modi.

India has not condemned its old ally

Russia over the invasion of Ukraine

and have urged both sides to resolve their differences through diplomacy. Mr Modi told Mr Putin in 2022 that “today’s era is not an era of war”.

“While discussing the situation in Ukraine, PM (Modi) reiterated his call for dialogue and diplomacy,” New Delhi said in a statement.

The boss of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, shocked the world by leading the

armed revolt,

only to abruptly call it off as his fighters approached Moscow.

India’s national security adviser, Mr Ajit Doval, also spoke to his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev on Wednesday on the failed mutiny, an Indian security establishment source said.

India remains dependent on Moscow for its defence needs and has sharply increased its imports of cheap Russian oil, frustrating the West. REUTERS