Modi, Putin talk Ukraine conflict

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin following his landmark visit to Ukraine, last week.

“Spoke with President Putin today. Discussed measures to further strengthen Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. Exchanged perspectives on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and my insights from the recent visit to Ukraine. Reiterated India’s firm commitment to support an early, abiding and peaceful resolution of the conflict,” PM Modi posted on X after the phone call.

On Monday evening, Prime Minister Modi had dialled US President Joe Biden, discussing the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and underscoring India’s consistent position in favour of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict.

“While discussing the situation in Ukraine, PM Modi briefed President Biden on his recent visit to Ukraine. He reiterated India’s consistent position in favour of dialogue and diplomacy and expressed full support for early return of peace and stability,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a late night statement following the phone call between the two leaders.

Earlier on Monday, the Prime Minister had spoken with Australian PM Anthony Albanese as both leaders not only discussed bilateral relations but also cooperation in the multilateral fora, including the Quad grouping which also includes the United States and Japan. Following PM Modi’s visit to Kyiv last Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had said that India supports his country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“Today, history was made. The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi made his first visit to Ukraine since our country’s independence, on the eve of our Independence Day. Today, we reached an agreement on four documents between Ukraine and India, covering the medical field, agricultural cooperation, humanitarian relations, and culture,” said Zelensky after the end of diplomatic

engagements with PM Modi.