In a significant development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin and reiterated India’s long-standing position in favour of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the problems between Moscow and Kyiv. Diplomats say that PM Modi’s reaffirmation of India’s stand should be viewed as a message to the Russian leader on what needs to be done immediately to end the hostilities between Russia and Ukraine. “That India is on the side of the peace which is possible through dialogue and diplomacy was also the message in whatever was said by PM Modi during telephonic conversation with President Putin,” sources told The Daily Guardian Review.
This is the fourth time the two leaders have spoken this year over the phone. Earlier, PM Modi and President Putin have had telephonic talks on 24 February, 2 March, and 7 March. During earlier conversations, PM Modi had urged Putin to hold talks with his Ukrainian counterpart to end the violence and resolve the crisis. Diplomatic sources said that Putin has appreciated India sticking to its ‘neutral’ stand on Ukraine during the G-7 summit where the leaders of the seven wealthiest countries of the world got together to corner Moscow. Attending the summit in Germany, PM Modi continued to bat for dialogue and diplomacy as the only solution to the Ukraine situation.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin readout says that “at the request of PM Narendra Modi, Putin informed about the key aspects of Russia’s special military operation, emphasizing the dangerous and provocative nature of the line of the Kyiv regime and its Western patron to escalate the crisis and disrupt efforts to resolve it politically and diplomatically.” The readout further says that “illegitimate sanctions against Russia have exacerbated an already difficult situation.” Putin told PM Modi that Russia remains a reliable grain, fertilizer producer and supplier.
Speaking over the phone, the two leaders also discussed the state of global energy and food markets, PM Modi’s office said in a statement. “They exchanged ideas on how bilateral trade in agricultural goods, fertilisers and pharma products could be encouraged further,” the statement said. “The leaders also discussed global issues, including the state of the international energy and food markets.”
As India continues to be an importer of Russian crude oil, Putin told Modi that Russia remains a reliable supplier of grains, fertilisers and energy. “In the context of the ongoing situation in Ukraine, the Prime Minister reiterated India’s long-standing position in favour of dialogue and diplomacy,” read a release by the PMO. The leaders also discussed global issues, including the state of international energy and food markets.