Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called today for an end to the war in Ukraine during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Modi publicly expressed the desire to increase bilateral relations with Moscow, at a time when India maintains an ambiguous position regarding the conflict.
The meeting took place in the context of Putin's visit to India, which occurs at a time when Russia faces growing international isolation due to the invasion of Ukraine. India, for its part, has avoided publicly condemning Russian action in international forums.
Modi reiterated India's traditional position of defending dialogue and diplomacy as paths to conflict resolution. The prime minister did not specify, however, what concrete measures should be taken to achieve peace.
Relations between India and Russia have deep historical roots, dating back to the Soviet era, and include cooperation in the defense and energy sectors. Despite Western pressure for alignment, New Delhi continues to favor a non-aligned foreign policy.
