Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took no names but asserted India’s support for peace efforts to end Russia’s ongoing military conflict with Ukraine, saying New Delhi unequivocally supports reconciliation and hopes for an amicable solution to be found.
The Ukraine issue figured prominently during the 23rd India-Russia annual summit, which saw Russian President Vladimir Putin and PM Modi engage in talks aimed at further shoring-up a nearly eight-decade bilateral partnership that remained steadfast, notwithstanding a fractured geopolitical environment and global tensions.
In his televised opening remarks at the summit, PM Modi clarified that India is not neutral, as it is on the side of peace when it comes to ending the Ukraine conflict.
“We have been holding discussions following the start of the Ukraine conflict. As a close friend, you have been regularly apprising us on the situation. I think trust is a major strength,” he said.
“I have always said that India is not neutral; India has a side and that side is peace. We support all peace efforts and we are standing shoulder-to-shoulder in all peace efforts,” the prime minister asserted, adding that “we all should find the path of peace”.
“I am aware of the latest efforts and I am confident that the world will turn to peace,” he said.
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Putin said he agreed with the PM and stated that Moscow is working towards finding a peaceful solution to the conflict.
The Russian President was accorded a red carpet welcome on Thursday evening on his first visit to India in four years. It is also his first trip to India since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022.
PM Modi personally received the Russian leader with a warm hug at the Palam airport, before the two travelled together in a white SUV to the prime minister’s official residence for a private dinner.
The two leaders are expected to boost strategic and defence ties between both the countries in the backdrop of mounting pressure by the US on Russia’s allies to stop purchases of crude oil from Moscow in order to cripple it financially and force it to end the war in Ukraine.
By the end of Putin’s India visit today, the two countries are expected to ink a plethora of agreements, including one on facilitating the movement of Indian workers to Russia, and another on logistical support under a broader framework of defence cooperation.
It is learnt that under the trade basket, Indian exports to Russia are expected to significantly increase in areas of pharma, agriculture, food products and consumer goods.
The move comes amid concerns in New Delhi over a ballooning trade deficit in favour of Russia since India’s annual procurement of goods and services from Russia amounts to around USD 65 billion, while Russia’s imports from India stand at only around USD 5 billion. The two sides will also likely discuss New Delhi’s proposed free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union.
Officials said India is also looking at boosting cooperation in the fertiliser sector, especially since China exerted greater restrictions on its fertiliser exports. Russia supplies three to four million tonnes of fertilisers to India annually.
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