Moscow/New Delhi, July 9 :
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said he had very open and candid exchange of views on the Ukraine conflict with President Vladimir Putin even as he said that India is prepared to help in every way to help resolve the conflict.
In his remarks at the beginning of their bilateral talks, PM Modi said that he felt very reassured in hearing President Putin also speak in favour of peace.
PM Modi reiterated India’s view that talk of peace cannot be held in an atmosphere of war, and that dialogue and diplomacy are the only way forward in Ukraine.
Referring to the criticism of the West over his Moscow visit, PM Modi said:
“Our bilateral talks have been going on for many years, but this time the entire world is focused on my current visit, and is observing every facet of it closely and drawing their own conclusions.”
“You invited me to your residence last evening, and we spent 4-5 hours together and discussed many issues. Both were able to discuss Ukraine openly and heard each other’s views respectfully and understood each other’s points of view on the matter respectfully,” he said.
“During a war, or terror strikes, those who believe in humanity feel great sorrow when there is loss of life; and our heart is torn with grief at the sight of innocent children dying. We discussed this aspect too in great detail last evening,” PM Modi said of his informal talks with President Putin at the latter’s state residence last evening.
“As a friend, you have said that peace is essential; but we know that this is not possible in a state of war. It is not easy to discuss peace in an atmosphere of war. We have to take the path of dialogue and diplomacy to find an end to the crisis,” the PM said.
“I have satisfaction in the fact that we spoke in an atmosphere of great frankness and openness, and we have come out with many ideas, and a new thinking has come forward,” he said.
“Last evening, during our informal talks regarding peace, I said that India is prepared to help in every way for that, and I was very happy to hear your agreement on that. After hearing my friend President Putin speak
Russia India’s all-weather
for peace, we are very reassured,” the PM said.
Referring to the Western sanctions on Russia due to the Ukraine conflict, the PM, in a dig at the West, said: “It was a challenge to obtain fuels, but with your cooperation our Indian citizens were able to tide over the tough times. And the world has to acknowledge that the India-Russia cooperation in the field of energy helped them tide over their fuel crisis too.”
“The citizens of many countries had to face tough times due to the energy crisis, but due to our cooperation we were able to save our people from the crisis over petrol and diesel, and tackle inflation; and for this I am thankful to you,” the PM said.
“As a friend, and even publicly, you have supported Make in India. And because of this we have been able to create many avenues of employment for our youth, the results are very good and will grow even more. I am confident of this,” he said.
The PM also said that he discussed the issues of the Global South with President Putin during their discussions last evening.
In his remarks, the Russian President said that Russia and India share a privileged strategic partnership, strengthened by friendship.
There are ongoing constant contacts between Russia and India.
The trade turnover between Russia and India increased by 20% in the first quarter of 2024.
Russia and India closely cooperate on the international stage, including at the UN, BRICS, and SCO.
Putin stated that he and Modi discussed all issues in an informal setting.
Putin thanked Modi for the attention the Indian Prime Minister gave to resolving the Ukrainian crisis peacefully.
Putin invited Modi to the BRICS summit, which will be held in Kazan in the autumn.
Russian nuclear technologies enable the creation of composite materials that are successfully used, including in the military industry.
Uranium is currently the most sought-after energy resource, Putin told the Indian Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, In a special ceremony in St. Andrew Hall in the Kremlin, President Putin conferred the award on Prime Minister Modi. The award was announced in 2019.
Prime Minister Modi is the first Indian leader to be conferred with this award, which was established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great in honour of Saint Andrew, the first apostle of Jesus and patron saint of Russia.
While accepting the award, Prime Minister Modi dedicated it to the people of India and to the traditional bonds of friendship between India and Russia. He further stated that the recognition illuminates the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries, said a statement issued by the ministry of external affairs.
“I am heartily grateful to you for conferring me with the highest civilian honour of Russia. This honour is not just mine, this is an honour of 140 crore Indians. This is an honour of the centuries-old and deep friendship and mutual trust between India and Russia,” Modi said after receiving the award.
Modi said under President Putin’s leadership, India-Russia relations have strengthened in all directions and have scaled new heights.
“The foundation of strategic ties between the two nations that you had laid has only further strengthened with the passing of time. Our mutual cooperation, based on people-to-partnership, is becoming the hope and guarantee of a better future of our people,” he added.
Later, in a post on X, Modi said, “Honoured to receive the Order of St Andrew the Apostle. I dedicate it to the people of India.”
Earlier, President Putin congratulated Modi for the highest Russian award and wished him good health, success and all the best.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for an hour-long ‘restricted meeting’ in the latter’s Novo-Ogaryovo ‘dacha’ outside Moscow on Monday evening but the lurking shadow of China may have loomed large.
Modi was quoted by Russian news agency TASS after the Indian PM while addressing a meeting with members of Moscow’s Indian community as saying that Russia has stood by India’s side through thick and thin and is India’s true friend.
“The temperature sometimes falls below zero in Russia but the temperature is always above zero in Indian-Russian relations… Russia remains India’s trusted friend in any weather,” TASS quoted him as saying.
In what was a reiteration of the Indian position, an official source said: “India has always called for respecting the UN Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty. There is no solution on the battlefield. Dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward.”
“The focus of the visit is the economic agenda (energy, trade, manufacturing, fertilizers), and ‘a solution cannot be found on the battlefield’”, the source added.
But just a day before, Russian missiles had hit residential and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine, including in the cities of Kyiv, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro and Pokrovsk, killing dozens of civilians, including children and injuring more than 150. In Kyiv, the Okhmatdyt National Children’s Specialized Hospital was also hit.
The attack had drawn strong condemnation from the UN Secretary-General on Tuesday.
The Indian statement is in pursuance of India’s stated policy of strategic autonomy that was best exhibited by adopting the ‘middle way’ on the Ukraine conflict. Neither did India categorically condemn the Russian foray into Ukraine nor did it toe the US-led position of actively supporting the Ukrainians by supplying weapons and logistics.
India’s position may be a forced one where China is the big elephant in the room. If cannot afford to go blatantly against the Russians because of several reasons. Russia would further build close ties in its axis with China threatening Indian sourcing of weapon platforms, systems and spares from Russia. India also wants some sort of leeway with China and for that, Russia is the best bet to convince the Chinese to see and appreciate the Indian position.
Nor can India treat the US-led NATO and the West with impunity because of its volatile relationship with China which spiked since mid-2020 after the border clashes in the Pangong Tso and the more brutal Galwan brawl.
It is therefore a compulsion that India cannot be seen as being partisan to either of the two sides.
Brazil and South Africa, both competitors with India to assume leadership of the ‘Global South’ have a position similar to India but at least in their case, there is no hostility with China.
On the obvious side, besides Ukraine, the focus areas in the Modi-Putin talks would be firstly, on securing affordable energy supplies and keeping inflation/ price rise under check. Last year, more than 80 MMT of crude was imported from Russia.
Secondly, assuring fertilizer supply. Russia remains an important supplier of imported fertilizers. Last year, over 48 lakh tonnes of fertilizers were imported from Russia. The supply of fertilizers is important for India’s farmers, especially during the ongoing Kharif season and the Ravi season starting in October.
Thirdly, a need to secure long-term fuel supplies for the two new upcoming Russian-aided nuclear power plants of 1000 MW each at the Kudankulum Nuclear Power plant that are already in operation.
Interestingly, across the Atlantic, leaders from 38 countries in Washington are meeting for a summit to mark the 75th anniversary of the NATO alliance. On Thursday, the Summit will see a meeting of the NATO Ukraine Council, after which President Biden will host an event with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and nearly two dozen allies and partners, including the United States, who have security agreements with Ukraine.
