Days after visiting Ukraine, Indian PM Narendra Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin that he supports an immediate end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The discussions between Modi and the Russian leader took place on Tuesday (August 27), a day after Modi had a telephone conversation about the war with US President Joe Biden.
In a post on X, Modi wrote that he and Putin had “exchanged perspectives on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and insights from our recent visit to Ukraine.” Modi said he reiterated India’s “strong commitment to supporting an early, lasting and peaceful resolution of the conflict.”
In a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week, the Indian prime minister had pushed for talks between Russia and Ukraine, saying that “we should move in that direction without wasting any time.” He also offered to play an active role in any efforts to achieve peace.
Modi's visit to Kyiv comes amid criticism from Western allies that New Delhi has not condemned Russia's invasion.
India's foreign ministry said that in his telephone conversation with Putin, Modi stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy and “sincere and practical dialogue between all stakeholders.”
Modi and Putin also reviewed progress in bilateral relations and discussed steps to further strengthen their partnership, the statement said.
In Monday's talks with Biden, Modi also expressed India's support for an early return to peace and stability.
“I think Modi’s conversations with Russian and American leaders come at a time when India is trying to convey its seriousness about using its influence to resolve this conflict, and to support its claim to be an autonomous actor,” said Harsh Pant, vice president for studies at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.
“India is being blamed for not doing that in the past, so India is approaching the countries most involved in the conflict.”
India has not proposed any peace plan to end the war. But as one of the few countries with good relations with both Russia and the West, it hopes to push for talks between Moscow and Ukraine.
Following Modi's visit, Zelenskyy told reporters that he had told Modi of his support for India hosting the second peace summit as Kyiv hopes to find a host for the event among developing countries. The first summit was held in Switzerland in June.
In Kyiv, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyan Jaishankar has said that India is willing to do whatever it can to help end the war “because we think the continuation of this conflict is terrible, obviously for Ukraine itself, but also for the world.” (uh)
