Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts to help find a peaceful solution to the Ukraine crisis. According to Russia’s state news agency ‘TASS’, Putin said, “I am grateful to you for focusing on the most important issues, especially the effort to find ways to resolve the Ukraine crisis by peaceful means.”
Putin made this statement during a conversation with PM Modi at the Russian presidential office ‘Kremlin’. In his initial statement broadcast on television, Modi assured Putin and the world community that India is in favor of peace and is ready to contribute to ending the conflict in Ukraine. He said, “Peace is most important for the bright future of the new generation… Peace talks do not succeed amidst bombs, guns and bullets.”
The Prime Minister also mentioned his informal conversation with Putin on Monday and said that listening to the Russian President brought hope. PM Modi said, “If people lose their lives, then every person who believes in humanity is saddened. On top of that, if innocent children are killed, if innocent children die, then it is heart-breaking and very painful.”
Putin said that Russia and India work together on the international stage. State news agency ‘TASS’ quoted Putin as saying, “We work together on the international stage, especially within international organizations.”
He explained that there is “participation mainly within the United Nations and groups such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS.” Putin said, “On July 8, we had the opportunity to communicate in an informal atmosphere and discuss almost all issues.” On Monday, the two leaders spent several hours together at Putin’s Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that he doubts that NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) member countries will consider Prime Minister Modi’s peace initiative. He told a Telegram channel called ‘Shot’, “The NATO summit is taking place these days. Whatever rhetoric happened before it indicates that they are unlikely to listen, but we will continue to monitor which viewpoints will dominate there.”
Peskov also said that “more and more politicians are actually talking about dialogue. They may disagree on some things, on many things, but if there is dialogue, there is an opportunity to find a solution.”
Putin also said he believes Russia and India have a special strategic partnership. “We have had a good friendship for decades. Today, our relations have the element of a special strategic partnership,” he said.
Putin has also invited PM Modi to the BRICS summit to be held in the Russian city of Kazan in October. Addressing PM Modi, the Russian President said, “We will be happy to see you at the BRICS summit to be held in Kazan in the autumn of this year.”
This year Russia holds the presidency of BRICS. BRICS is an inter-governmental organization that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina and the United Arab Emirates have joined the group as new members of BRICS.
Tags: Narendra Modi, Russia, Ukraine war, Vladimir Putin
FIRST PUBLISHED : July 9, 2024, 23:50 IST