PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin as he shared his “insights” from his recent visit to Ukraine and reiterated India’s firm commitment to supporting an early, abiding and peaceful resolution of the conflict with Ukraine. In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said the two leaders also discussed measures to further strengthen special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries. The Prime Minister said, “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 The Prime Minister had on Monday briefed US President Joe Biden on his visit to Ukraine and conveyed India’s full support for early return of peace to the region through dialogue and diplomacy.

 

The Ministry of External Affairs inastatement later said Modi duringhistelephoneconversationwith Putin recalled his “successful visit to Russia”lastmonthtoparticipateinthe 22nd India-Russia Bilateral Summit. “The two leaders exchanged views on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Prime Minister shared insights from his recent visit to Ukraine. He underlinedtheimportanceofdialogue and diplomacy as well as sincere and practical engagement between all stakeholderstoachieveanabidingand peacefulresolutionoftheconflict,”the MEA said. Thetwoleaders“reviewedprogress” onanumberofbilateralissuesanddiscussed measures to further strengthen the special and privileged strategic partnershipbetweenIndiaandRussia, it said. “They also exchanged views on a range of regional and global issues of mutual interest,” the statement said, adding, the two leaders agreed to remain in touch.

 

 

 

UNITEDStates President Joe Biden has commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “message of peace” and “humanitarian support” for Ukraine, as they discussed his historic visit to Kyiv and the prospects for the early return of peace through dialogue and diplomacy. The phone conversation between Biden and Modi on Monday, initiated by the US President, came three days after Prime Minister Modi paid a high-profile visit to Kyiv during which he told President Zelenskyy that Ukraine and Russia should sit together to end the war and that India was ready to play an “active role” to restore peace. Inapost on ‘X’, Biden said, “I spoke with Prime MinisterModitodiscusshis recenttrip to Poland and Ukraine, and commended him for his message of peace andongoinghumanitariansupport for Ukraine.”

 

“We also affirmed our commitment to working together to contribute to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific,” Biden said. This was the first call between the two leaders after Modi’s trip to Russia, Poland and Ukraine and the recent political developments in Bangladesh. The White House readout of the call hadno reference toBangladesh,which was mentioned in an ‘X’ post by Prime Minister Modi. Modi’s nearly nine-hour visit to Ukraine, the first by an Indian Prime MinistersinceitsIndependencein1991, came six weeks after he held summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin that triggered anguish in some Western capitals. TheWhite House, inareadout of the call, said the two leaders discussed Modi’s recent trip to Poland and Ukraine, as well as the United Nations General Assembly meetings in September. “The President commended the Prime Minister for his historic visits to Poland and Ukraine, the first byanIndianPrimeMinisterindecades, andforhismessageofpeaceandongoing humanitarian support for Ukraine, including its energy sector,” it said. Biden and Modi affirmed their continued support for a peaceful resolution of the conflict underinternational law, based on the UN Charter.