New Delhi: Amid strained ties with the US, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised Monday that India and Russia have always “stood shoulder to shoulder in the most difficult situation” during his bilateral meeting with President Vladimir V. Putin, even as he called for an end to the conflict with Ukraine.
“India and Russia have always stood shoulder to shoulder even in the most difficult situations. Our close cooperation is important not only for the people of both countries, but also for global peace, stability, and prosperity,” Modi said in his opening remarks during a bilateral meeting with Putin on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Heads of States Summit Monday.
The Indian Prime Minister added: “We have been continuously discussing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. We welcome all the recent peace efforts. We hope that all parties will move forward constructively. A way must be found to end the conflict as soon as possible and establish lasting peace. This is the call of entire humanity.”
The meeting between Modi and Putin come as ties between India and the US have hit a rough patch, ostensibly due to New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil, as well as the stalled negotiations on a bilateral trade deal. India and Russia last month announced that they have agreed to terms of reference for a free trade agreement between New Delhi and the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
The two leaders attended the SCO summit in the Chinese city of Tianjin. Modi and Putin travelled together in the Russian President’s car to the venue for the bilateral meeting, which was situated at a distance from the SCO conference venue. Putin waited for about 10 minutes for Modi to join him in the car. Modi and Putin spent about 45 minutes in the car even after arriving at the bilateral meeting venue. The bilateral meeting itself lasted over an hour, sources informed ThePrint.
Modi and Putin have spoken twice in recent weeks over the ongoing situation with Ukraine. Putin on 15 August was in Alaska for a summit with American President Donald J. Trump to find a way to end the almost four-year long conflict.
“We have been in constant touch. There have been many high-level meetings between the two sides on a regular basis. 1.4 billion Indians are eagerly waiting for you for our 23rd Summit in December this year,” said Modi.
Putin is set to travel to India in December for the annual India-Russia summit. The Indian Prime Minister had travelled to Russia last July for the summit. The meeting between Modi and Putin, and the camaraderie shown in public is significant, especially since the Indian Prime Minister has not spoken with Trump since June.
The US has taken aim at India’s $56 billion oil purchases from Russia in recent weeks, with Trump imposing additional tariffs on India of 25 percent on 6 August. The tariffs kicked in on 27 August. Indian goods are now tariffed at 50 percent—among the highest of all of US’ trading partners.
Peter Navarro, the White House aide on trade, has accused India of funding Russia’s war machine, going so far as to label the conflict “Modi’s war”. India has rejected the accusations, pointing out that the US still maintains trade ties with Moscow, despite the crippling sanctions in place since the outbreak of the war in February 2022.
India in touch with Ukraine
India has called for dialogue and diplomacy to end the war with Ukraine and has been in touch with Kyiv as well. On Saturday, Modi had a telephonic conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian President said in a statement that both leaders “coordinated their positions” on the SCO.
“The end of this war must begin with an immediate ceasefire, with the necessary silence. This position is understood and supported by everyone. It is impossible to speak meaningfully about peace while our cities and communities are under constant fire,” Zelenskyy said in a statement on X.
After the Alaska Summit between Trump and Putin, the Ukrainian President confirmed his readiness to meet the Russian leader to open negotiations to end the war. However, Moscow has maintained that the groundwork for such a meeting is still in the process of being completed.
Zelenskyy said, “Almost two weeks have passed, and during this time, when Russia should have been preparing for diplomacy, Moscow has given no positive signal—only carried out cynical strikes on civilian targets and killed dozens of our people. I thank the Prime Minister for his words of condolence to the families and loved ones of the victims.”
Ukraine is also working on a visit of Zelenskyy to India, following Modi’s visit to Kyiv in August 2024.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: Peace at border an insurance policy for bilateral ties, India tells China