- 'Informed in detail' about state of affairs in Ukrainian settlement, says Putin
ISTANBUL / MOSCOW / NEW DELHI
New Delhi is "on the side of peace" on the Ukraine crisis, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, as the two leaders co-chaired the 23rd annual India-Russia summit in New Delhi.
Putin and Modi held brief bilateral talks, open to the media, after Indian President Droupadi Murmu welcomed Putin at the presidential house, alongside Modi, for a ceremonial guard of honor.
"I am fully confident that with the efforts being made in recent days, the world will once again return to the direction of peace," Modi said.
“We have regularly discussed the Ukraine crisis, and as a true friend, you have informed me about issues,” he told Putin.
Recalling his recent conversations on the Ukraine war with world leaders, Modi said: “I always told (them) India is not neutral. India is on the side of peace.”
“We are shoulder to shoulder with all efforts of peace,” he added. “We all should find the path of peace.”
Addressing a joint news conference after the summit with Putin, Modi said India has "advocated for peace” on the Ukraine war “from the very beginning.”
"We welcome all efforts being made for a peaceful and lasting resolution of this matter," he said, adding India “has always been ready to contribute its part and will remain so in the future."
Putin landed in New Delhi late Thursday for a two-day state visit, in a first since 2021 and the beginning of the Moscow-Kyiv war in February 2022.
Friendship with Russia to ‘give us strength to face global challenges,’ says Modi
Hailing ties with Moscow, the Indian prime minister said: "I am fully confident that in the times to come, our friendship will give us the strength to face global challenges — and this very trust will enrich our shared future.”
Recalling the April 22 attack at a Pahalgam tourist resort in Jammu and Kashmir and last year's attack on Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Modi said: "India's unwavering belief is that terrorism is a direct assault on the values of humanity and that global unity against it is our greatest strength."
Following the summit, the two sides also signed agreements and memoranda of understanding in various sectors, including migration, mobility, healthcare, medical education, science, and food safety, as well as the port and shipping sector.
Modi said the two sides had agreed to adopt a 2030 economic cooperation program for bilateral ties to "become more diversified and sustainable."
He added that New Delhi and Moscow were taking steps for India's free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union.
The two sides have set a target to reach $100 billion in bilateral trade, which is at around $65 currently.
Modi 'informed in detail' about state of affairs in Ukrainian settlement, says Putin
Ahead of the summit, Putin, on his part, said he informed Modi in detail about the state of affairs in the Ukrainian settlement, including the recent contacts with US representatives.
Putin praised the Russian-Indian relations, saying that as the two countries and their economies develop, the opportunities for cooperation expand.
“As for our relations, they really have a very deep historical character, no matter how we characterize it, no matter what epithets we decorate it with, something else is important, the content is important,” he stressed.
Russia and India currently cooperate in a number of sectors, including aviation, space, high technologies, artificial intelligence, and defense, Putin noted.
“It highlights the character and level of trust. Our teams have worked very well in the run-up to our meeting, and today we have the opportunity to focus on details,” he said.
Putin-Modi summit comes as New Delhi faces mounting pressure from the US to halt purchases of Russian oil.
Washington has imposed a 50% tariff on Indian imports, partly for purchasing Russian oil amid the continuing war.
Putin and Modi will also address a business forum as India and Russia aim to boost the current bilateral trade volume of $68.7 billion – nearly six times higher than pre-pandemic levels – to $100 billion.
The Russian president is accompanied by a large group of businesspeople.
Putin will be hosted by his Indian counterpart Murmu for a presidential dinner before his departure late Friday.