Modi thanks Russian Prez for phone call, reiterates wish for peaceful resolution.
New Delhi: Highlighting the strength of the India-Russia friendship amid New Delhi’s ongoing tensions with Washington, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening for the second time in 10 days and briefed him on the Alaska summit that he had held on Saturday with US President Donald Trump. Thanking President Putin, Mr Modi “underlined India’s consistent position for a peaceful resolution of the (Russia-Ukraine) conflict through diplomacy and dialogue and reiterated that India supports all efforts in this regard”, New Delhi said in a statement.
After the call, Mr Modi posted on social media platform X: “Thank my friend, President Putin, for his phone call and for sharing insights on his recent meeting with President Trump in Alaska. India has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict and supports all efforts in this regard. I look forward to our continued exchanges in the days to come.” Prime Minister Modi had referred to the Russian President as his “friend” after the call earlier this month as well.
The two phone calls within days have both taken place after President Trump earlier this month had announced imposition of a 50 per cent tariff on India, including a penalty of 25 per cent for buying Russian oil, that is scheduled to kick in from August 27. There was, however, no direct reference to any discussion on the American tariffs imposed on India in both the statements of the Indian government following the two calls between Mr Modi and Mr Putin this month. After the Alaska summit “went well”, President Trump has indicated he may not have to impose the 25 per cent penalty tariffs on India. Soon after the summit ended, a relieved New Delhi had last Saturday hailed the two Presidents for “their leadership in the pursuit of peace” (to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict) as “highly commendable”. It is however significant that while Mr Putin has called Mr Modi after the Summit, no such effort has been made by President Trump, which could be a fallout of the raging India-US trade tensions. Also, Mr Modi is expected to meet President Putin soon at the Chinese port city of Tianjin where the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit will be held later this month. The call on Monday also comes ahead of the visit of external affairs minister S. Jaishankar to Moscow later this week.
In a statement on Monday evening, New Delhi said: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a telephone call today from President of Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. President Putin shared his assessment of his meeting with US President Donald Trump in Alaska last week… The two leaders also touched upon a number of issues of bilateral cooperation with a view to further strengthen the special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia. The two leaders agreed to remain in close touch.”
Earlier this month on August 8, in a firm signal to Washington that India will continue its close ties with Russia, Mr Modi had spoken to President Putin, with both leaders then “reaffirming their commitment to further deepen the special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia”. Mr Modi had said he “looked forward to hosting President Putin in India later this year” for the 23rd India-Russia annual summit and had extended an invitation in this regard to the Russian leader. India had said in a statement then that “President Putin briefed Mr Modi on the latest developments” concerning the Russia-Ukraine conflict, following which Mr Modi “thanked President Putin for his detailed assessment” and “reiterated India’s consistent position for peaceful resolution of the conflict”.
