New Delhi: During his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again pitched for peace in Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine.
“As I have stated before, we believe that the resolution of issues should be achieved through peaceful means only. We fully support the earliest possible restoration of peace and stability. All our efforts prioritise humanity. India remains ready to provide all possible assistance in the future as well,” said Modi in his opening remarks during the bilateral meeting with Putin Tuesday.
Deepening the economic partnership between India and Russia was another area of focus during the meeting.
Modi is in Russia for two days (22 October and 23 October) to attend the 16th BRICS summit. BRICS is a grouping founded by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2011. Most recently, the grouping was expanded to add Iran, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ethiopia at the 2023 Johannesburg BRICS summit.
In a press briefing later in the day, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri explained further that there was a “considerable amount of discussion” on the Russia-Ukraine war, where the Indian PM highlighted that the battlefield would “not yield any solution” and that both countries must engage in dialogue to solve the situation.
“I think we will continue to stay in touch with all parties, given that we are among the few interlocutors that have the comfort and the ability to speak on all sides or speak with actors on all sides of the conflict. And, as I may have said earlier, the president, President Putin, appreciated the role that India was playing and promised to stay in close touch with the Prime Minister in connection with India’s efforts,” said Misri at the press briefing.
In recent months, PM Modi has been able to visit both Moscow (in July) and Kyiv (in August), and has remained in touch with US President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and discussed the ongoing war with the leaders of both Russia and Ukraine. During the annual India-Russia summit in July, the issue was discussed at length between Putin and Modi.
Similarly, in a historic first visit by an Indian PM to Ukraine, Modi was able to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where the two leaders discussed the war. While the bilateral Tuesday was the second between Putin and Modi this year, the Indian prime minister also met with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the United Nations Summit of the Future earlier in September.
Misri explained that India’s attempts at staying in touch with all the parties is to “gauge the possibility of finding a peaceful path to end the conflict,” and also to “look for alternative approaches that may not currently be on the table.”
The discussion between Modi and Putin also focused on the burgeoning economic relationship between India and Russia. In recent years, especially after the Russia – Ukraine war began in February 2022, the economic relationship between the two countries has expanded greatly, as New Delhi has been one of the biggest buyers of Russian oil.
“Economic cooperation figured quite prominently in the talks and the two sides discussed the possibility of further cooperation in the financial sector. Sustaining supply chains for the steady and regular sourcing of fertilisers and coal from Russia was also discussed and President Putin promised assistance in this regard as well,” said the Indian foreign secretary.
The issue of the release of Indian nationals contracted by the Russian army was also discussed. Before the July summit between Modi and Putin, the issue of about 100 Indians nationals in the Russian army was perceived as a major sticking point in ties. However, around 85 Indians have returned to India since the issue was first taken up by New Delhi with Russia, although some were the mortal remains of nationals.
Rebuilding of Afghanistan discussed with Iran
On day one of Modi’s visit to Russia, the Indian PM also held a bilateral meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian—the first since the latter was elected as the head of Iran’s government.
The focus of the talks between the two leaders revolved around the reconstruction of Afghanistan, as well as deepening economic linkages between the two countries, especially the development of the port in Chabahar.
“As I said, Afghanistan was another key topic of discussion between the leaders. Both of them underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region, along with continuing humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan,” said Misri.
The Indian foreign secretary added that “seamless connectivity in the region” was a major theme of the discussion between the two leaders.
The new long-term contract signed between India and Iran for the development of Chabahar port was discussed but also looked at as “significant for the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan and for enhancing trade, economic and people-to-people linkages with the countries of Central Asia,” said Misri.
After the end of the bilateral meetings, Modi also participated in an informal dinner with the rest of the leaders of the BRICS in Kazan, where the Indian prime minister was seen seated next to Putin on one side, while the President of China Xi Jinping was seated on the other side of the Russian president.
Misri confirmed that a bilateral meeting between Modi and Xi will be held Wednesday on the margins of the BRICS summit.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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