Early end to Russia-Ukraine conflict call for humanity, Modi tells Putin, pushes for truce

New Delhi: An early end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict is the call of humanity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told President Vladimir Putin as they met in Tianjin in northern China on Monday and vowed to strengthen the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” between the two nations.

The prime minister reiterated his support for the recent initiatives that had been taken to address the conflict in Ukraine and emphasised the need to expedite a cessation of the conflict and find a durable peace settlement, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.

“Even under the most difficult circumstances, India and Russia have always moved forward together, shoulder to shoulder,” Modi told Putin. “Our close cooperation matters not only for the peoples of our two countries but also for ensuring global peace, stability and prosperity.”

The two leaders held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation at Tianjin in China.

Putin and Modi shared a ride in the Russian President’s car from the venue of the summit to the venue of their bilateral meeting. The ride offered them an opportunity for one-to-one talks.

“Regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, we exchange views regularly,” Modi noted during his meeting with Putin. “We welcome all recent efforts to establish peace and hope that all parties will approach this issue constructively. Ways must be found to bring the conflict to a swift end and to secure peace. This is the call of all humanity.”

New Delhi’s ties with Washington, D.C., of late came under stress after President Donald Trump and his aides accused India of providing Russia with the funds required to continue the war in Ukraine by continuing to buy oil from the former Soviet Union nation.

Trump of late announced an additional 25% tariff on India’s exports to the US – in addition to the 25% imposed earlier – for continuing to buy oil from Russia despite sanctions imposed by the West in response to Putin’s “special military operations” in Ukraine.

“We have established multi-level cooperation. Trade and economic ties as a whole are showing positive dynamics. Tourist exchanges are growing. We are working in close coordination on the international stage – at the UN, BRICS, the G20, and, of course, the SCO,” Putin told Modi.

Trump had a meeting with Putin in Alaska on August 15 to discuss ways to end the conflict. Trump also had a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the leaders of Europe. Putin called Modi on August 18 to apprise him about his meeting with Trump and the discussion they had about Ukraine.

Zelenskyy had called Modi soon after the prime minister reached Tianjin for the SCO summit on Saturday and said that while he was ready for a meeting with Putin, Russia continued to carry out “cynical strikes” killing dozens of civilians in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian President said that the Indian Prime Minister seemed ready to convey the “appropriate signal” to the Russian President when they would meet on Monday. His comment signalled that Kiev wanted Modi to insist on a ceasefire when he would discuss with him the issue of Ukraine.