Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday said he “highly valued” the contributions of India and other strategic partners in facilitating a resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
“We highly value the efforts and proposals of China, India, and our other strategic partners aimed at facilitating the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis,” Putin said at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
He also noted that the “understandings” reached with US President Donald Trump at their recent summit in Alaska had opened a path toward peace in Ukraine.
“The understandings reached at the recent Russian-American summit in Alaska, I hope, are also moving in this direction, opening the way to peace in Ukraine,” he remarked.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a photograph with Putin, where the two leaders were seen shaking hands and embracing on the sidelines of the summit. “Always a delight to meet President Putin!” said PM Modi on X.
India has consistently reiterated its position in favour of a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict and has extended support to all efforts in this direction.
Just as PM Modi arrived in China from Japan on Saturday, he received a call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who briefed him on negotiations held in Washington with US President Donald Trump and European leaders.
According to Zelensky, the conversation with PM Modi was “productive and important.” He added that India had expressed its readiness to make the necessary efforts and “convey the appropriate signal to Russia” and other leaders during discussions at the SCO Summit.
PM Modi later said he exchanged views with Zelensky on the ongoing conflict, its humanitarian dimension, and efforts to restore peace and stability. “India extends full support to all efforts in this direction,” he said on X.
On August 18, Putin had also spoken to PM Modi over a phone call, sharing his assessment of the Alaska meeting with Trump. PM Modi welcomed the dialogue, describing it as a positive step toward resolving the crisis.
(With inputs from IANS)
