President Putin Thanks PM Modi for ‘Personal Attention’ to Ukraine Peace Efforts during India Visit
New Delhi, India-Russian President Vladimir Putin, on a state visit to India for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, publicly thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India’s “attention to peace efforts” regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The acknowledgment came during the bilateral talks in New Delhi, where the two leaders held their summit discussions on a wide range of issues, including defense, trade, and regional security. This is Putin’s first visit to India since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
President Putin Focuses on Peace and Dialogue
The comments on the Ukraine conflict highlight India’s delicate diplomatic position and its consistent push for a resolution through dialogue.
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President Putin’s Statement: President Putin expressed his gratitude for India’s focus on seeking a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
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PM Modi’s Position: Prime Minister Modi, in his televised opening remarks, reiterated India’s firm stance, stating that the country “always supports peace” and is “on the side of peace.” He emphasized that the conflict should come to an end through dialogue and diplomacy. He also told Putin that the “welfare of nations lies in the path of peace.”
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India’s Consistent Messaging: PM Modi recalled that he and Putin have been in “constant discussion” since the crisis began and that he had previously conveyed the message that “this is not the era of war” on the sidelines of the SCO summit in 2022.
Strengthening the ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership’
Despite global pressure on India from Western nations, particularly the United States, to distance itself from Russia over the conflict, the visit focused heavily on reinforcing the long-standing bilateral relationship. Key areas of discussion and potential agreements included:
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Defense Cooperation: Boosting defense ties, including discussions on the delivery timeline for the remaining S-400 surface-to-air missile systems and potential upgrades for Russian-made Indian military hardware.
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Economic Ties: The leaders aim to increase bilateral trade turnover, which stood at a record high of approximately $68.7 billion in the last fiscal year, largely driven by India’s increased imports of discounted Russian oil. Discussions were held to address the significant trade deficit in Russia’s favor by boosting Indian exports (pharmaceuticals, agriculture, textiles) and insulating trade from Western sanctions, including working on local currency settlements (Rupee-Rouble).
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Civil Nuclear Energy: Exploring cooperation in civil nuclear energy, including progress on the Kudankulam project and the sharing of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology.
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Geopolitical Signal: The visit is viewed by analysts as a signal from both nations that their strategic partnership remains strong, with India asserting its strategic autonomy by balancing its ties with Russia against its growing engagement with the West.
The two leaders are expected to announce several agreements following their summit talks, underscoring the deep and comprehensive nature of their “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.”
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