New Delhi: On his ongoing two-day visit to Russia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly made a direct appeal to President Vladimir Putin to end war against Ukraine.
The PM told Putin that no solution could be found on the battleground during an informal meeting with the latter at his residence in Moscow, according to a NDTV report.
This was the PM’s first visit to Russia ever since the country launched its campaign in Ukraine, continuing for over two years now.
“India has always called for respecting the UN Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty. There is no solution on the battlefield. Dialogue and diplomacy are the way forward,” Modi told Putin, cited the report.
India had not made explicit condemnation of Russia over the issue before. It had also abstained on United Nations resolutions censuring Moscow.
Media reports further suggested that the PM had raised concerns about Indian nationals being deceived into joining the Russian army by unscrupulous travel agents.
According to sources, Russia had committed to repatriate the affected Indian nationals.
Earlier this year, it was alleged that about two dozen Indians were forced into fighting the war against Ukraine after being tricked by agents on the pretext of giving high-paying jobs.
Putin congratulates Modi on his electoral success
Reports further stated that Putin congratulated PM Modi on his third term. “The results speak for themselves; India now ranks third globally in terms of economy,” he reportedly said.
The latest meeting marks the 16th encounter between the two in the past 10 years. They had last met face-to-face at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in 2022.
Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor; 2 new consulates
“We are working on Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor. Both our countries are discovering each other through Ganga Volga dialogue and civilization. When I came here in 2025, I had said that the 21st Century will belong to India. Today, as Vishwa Bandhu, India is giving new confidence to the world,” the PM said while addressing the Indian diaspora at Moscow during an event on Tuesday, adding two new consulates would be opened in Kazan and Yekaterinburg to enhance travel and business.
Know more about the corridor
India has signed a Memorandum of Intent with Russia to open a full-fledged maritime route between Russia’s eastern port city, Vladivostok, and Chennai on India’s eastern seaboard. This sea route covers a distance of about 10,300 km. A large container ship travelling at the normal speed of 20-25 knots, should be able to cover the distance in 10 to 12 days.
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