India’s Modi urges early resolution of Ukraine conflict in call with Russia’s Putin
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared with Russian President Vladimir Putin his “insights” from his recent visit to Ukraine.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MOSCOW/NEW DELHI – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Aug 27 that he told Russian President Vladimir Putin that he backed an early, peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict, days after he held talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
Mr Modi’s visit last week,
Despite Western pressure to distance itself from Russia, India has maintained its ties with Moscow, which has been an important supplier of weapons to India since the days of the Soviet Union.
Mr Modi said he spoke to Mr Putin by phone and discussed ways to strengthen the partnership between their two countries. The Kremlin gave no details except for saying they spoke by phone.
“Reiterated India’s firm commitment to support an early, abiding and peaceful resolution of the conflict,” Mr Modi said in a post on X, describing the conversation.
Mr Modi shared “insights” from his visit to Ukraine with Mr Putin and “underlined the importance of dialogue and diplomacy as well as sincere and practical engagement between all stakeholders” to find peace, the Indian foreign ministry said in a statement.
Mr Modi’s Ukraine visit followed his trip to Russia in July, during which he embraced Mr Putin
That visit angered Ukraine, and the US State Department said it had raised concerns with India about ties with Russia.
In recent years, Washington has looked to woo New Delhi as a way to counter China’s growing regional influence.
Mr Zelensky has said he told Mr Modi he would support India hosting a second peace summit after one held in Switzerland as Kyiv hopes to find a host among countries in the global south.
But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has ruled out talks after Ukraine launched its incursion into Russia’s Kursk region on Aug 6.
With its traditionally close economic and defence ties to Moscow, India has refrained from criticising Russia over the invasion, while buying record volumes of Russian oil, saying it served national interest.
Ukraine has pitched for New Delhi to help rebuild its economy, inviting investment from Indian companies at a January business summit in India.
On Aug 26, Mr Modi also spoke to US President Joe Biden
