PM Modi dials Putin, stresses talks, diplomacy to end Ukraine war
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 27
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to US President Joe Biden, he called up Russian President Vladimir Putin today to exchange notes on ending the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
A Ministry of External Affairs statement said they discussed “perspectives” on the ongoing conflict.
The conversations with Putin and Biden come in the wake of Modi’s recent visit to Kyiv and his trip to Moscow last month. The PM’s attempt at balancing India’s relations with the US and Russia have drawn the world’s attention.
Modi is now expected to visit the US from September 21 to 25, when the UN General Assembly session is on in New York, but it is not clear yet whether he will also go to Washington DC for talks with Biden. He will be back in Russia in October to participate in the BRICS summit in Kazan, which Putin is hosting as the BRICS Chair.
The Kremlin — the office of the Russian President —said in his conversation with PM Modi, Putin blamed Ukraine and its “western friends” for what he termed “destructive policies”.
“Putin shared his principled assessment of the ‘destructive policies’ of the Kyiv authorities and their western patrons,” the Kremlin statement said. Putin mentioned Russia’s approach to resolving the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had, at a meeting with Modi in Kyiv on August 23, mentioned a peace formula, adding that India could possibly become the venue for a peace summit. But he also made it clear that Ukraine would not make compromises like losing one-third of its territory in the quest for peace. In his meeting with Indian journalists after Modi had departed from Kyiv, Zelenskyy said Ukraine needed India on its side, “not balancing between the US and Russia”.
The Russian side today indicated that India was keen on getting the conflict resolved. Modi “informed” Putin about his recent visit to Kyiv and “stressed his commitment to bringing about a settlement for Ukraine by political and diplomatic means”, the Kremlin said.
The MEA said: “Modi underlined the importance of dialogue and diplomacy as well as sincere and practical engagement between all stakeholders to achieve an abiding and peaceful resolution of the conflict”.
Yesterday, Biden had called up Modi and the two spoke about Ukraine and the developments in Bangladesh. The White House today said, “The leaders reaffirmed their continued support for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in accordance with international law, on the basis of the UN Charter”. Modi, during his visit to Moscow on July 8-9, had mentioned the UN Charter. US diplomats had protested the timing of his visit and sought New Delhi’s intervention in the Ukraine-Russia war using its long-standing ties with Russia.
The back-and-forth diplomacy between India-US and India-Russia in two successive days comes in the backdrop of Modi’s visit to the US in September. Modi put out a post on X describing the call to Putin: “Discussed measures to further strengthen special and privileged strategic partnership”.
Sources said Modi and Putin discussed practical steps needed to implement trade and economic agreements resulting from the July meeting.
Yesterday, Modi and Biden said they would continue to work together, in groups like the Quad, to contribute to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.
Modi to visit US in Sept, Russia in Oct
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to be in the US from September 21 to 25. His visit will coincide with the UN General Assembly session in New York. The PM will again visit Russia in October to participate in the BRICS summit in Kazan.
