Invasion Of Ukraine: India Ready To Contribute To Peace Efforts, Modi Tells Russian FM

New Delhi: India’s stand on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine hasn’t changed since Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Vladimir Putin in end-February and March.

Reiterating his call for early cessation of violence in Ukraine, the Indian PM conveyed to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during their meeting here on Friday that India was ready to contribute to peace efforts between the two countries in any way to resolve the conflict.

Lavrov called on Modi after holding wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

“Foreign Minister Lavrov briefed the Prime Minister on the situation in Ukraine, including the ongoing peace negotiations,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.

Lavrov arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening after a two-day visit to China.

During his meeting with Jaishankar on Friday morning, Lavrov appreciated India’s ‘unbiased’ approach in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Unlike the US and leading European nations, India has not criticized Russia for invading Ukraine on February 24 and abstained from voting at UN platforms in condemning Russian aggression.

India also abstained on a Russia-backed resolution highlighting humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, reflecting the Modi government’s neutral position.

In the course of his telephonic conversations with Putin on February 25, March 2 and March 7, Modi stressed on resolution of the crisis through diplomacy and dialogue.