Visiting Russia for his first official trip since his re-election, Narendra Modi called for peace in Ukraine.
After a one-on-one meeting, Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi appeared in front of the cameras. This is the first official trip of the Indian Prime Minister since his re-election, and his first visit to Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine.
Narendra Modi pleaded for peace in front of the man he considers his “friend”.
“Your Excellency, whether it is a war, a confrontation or a terrorist attack, anyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is human loss. When children are killed, when we see innocent children dying, it hurts our hearts. And this pain is very horrible.” said the Indian Prime Minister.
“Thank you for your attention to important issues, including trying to find ways to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, first of all peacefully.“, Vladimir Putin replied.
Volodymyr Zelensky considered this trip “devastating” for peace in Ukraine.
Despite recent Western pressure, Moscow and New Delhi have maintained a close relationship since the Cold War. India has refused to take clear sides in the conflict in Ukraine and has abstained from voting on UN resolutions against Russia.
Their trade relations have also boomed, from $10 billion before the war in Ukraine to around $60 billion between 2023 and 2024.
