Experts view PM Narendra Modi's recent visits to Russia and Ukraine as India's attempts to play a larger role in resolving the conflict.
New Delhi: Days after his return from Kyiv, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with top leadership in Russia and the United States to discuss an early resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and reiterated India’s “consistent” position in favor of dialogue and diplomacy.
According to a readout from the Indian side, PM Modi “shared insights” from his visit to Kyiv with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a telephone conversation and “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". He added in a post on X: “Reiterated India’s firm commitment to support an early, abiding and peaceful resolution of the conflict.”
A statement from the Kremlin said Putin “shared his principled assessment of the destructive policies of the Kyiv authorities and their Western patrons”, and highlighted Russia’s “approaches to resolving this conflict”. The statement didn’t give details of the approaches Putin had referred to.
The Kremlin’s statement said Modi stressed his commitment to “bringing about a settlement for Ukraine by political and diplomatic means”.
The conversation with Putin came hours after PM Modi had a phone call with US President Joe Biden as India walks a diplomatic tightrope between the two camps. Biden commended Modi for his "message of peace" and "humanitarian support" for Ukraine.
“Spoke to @POTUS @JoeBiden on phone today. We had a detailed exchange of views on various regional and global issues, including the situation in Ukraine. I reiterated India’s full support for early return of peace and stability,” the PM posted on X
Modi's visit to Ukraine, the first by an Indian Prime Minister, came six weeks after he held a bilateral meeting with Putin in Moscow. The visits are being viewed by experts as India's attempts to play a larger role in resolving the conflict, which has killed nearly a lakh soldiers on both sides.
