Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called for an immediate end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict during talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the world must move from “endless war towards end of war”. Meeting Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Modi said a peaceful resolution of the conflict was humanity’s shared priority and that India would continue to support all efforts for peace.
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The two leaders also reviewed India-Russia ties across a range of areas, including trade, investment, energy and fertiliser security. Their meeting came over a week before Putin is due to travel to India for the BRICS summit.
In his televised opening remarks, Modi said, “We have always discussed the Ukraine issue. When we last met, you had extensively briefed me on all aspects of it. India supports all efforts for peace and will continue to do so.”
“Every day spent on war pushes humanity backwards, whereas every step taken towards peace fills humanity with new hope and enthusiasm. We must move from endless war towards the end of war, which is very crucial for the well-being of humanity,” the prime minister said in Hindi.
“A peaceful resolution of all issues as soon as possible is the call of humanity, and this is also India’s message. The land of Gandhi and Buddha has a single message: the path of peace,” he said.
Modi also referred to Putin’s visit to India last year and said, “Your visit to India last year was highly successful and truly memorable. It is a matter of deep satisfaction for us that our cooperation continues to scale new heights and that we are working together for the welfare of the people of both nations.”
“Focusing on national interest as the paramount priority has been our shared approach, and this will remain our guiding principle in the future as well,” he added.
Putin said Russia-India relations had seen an upswing on the basis of the special and privileged partnership.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the two leaders reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation in political, economic, defence, energy, space, mobility and people-to-people ties. They also welcomed the outcome of the 27th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic and Cultural matters, held in Moscow on August 24.
According to the MEA, Modi and Putin exchanged views on India-Russia engagement in the multilateral arena, particularly in BRICS, and shared perspectives on key regional and global issues of mutual interest. These included the conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region, which have affected maritime trade and the safety and security of Indian seafarers.
The MEA said Modi reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy were the way forward in resolving conflicts. It added that the two leaders agreed to remain engaged to further strengthen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries, which has continued to grow despite geopolitical uncertainties.
“The prime minister stated that he looks forward to welcoming President Putin in India for the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12 and 13,” the MEA said.
Modi and Putin also travelled together in the Russian President’s limousine to the Nomad Games. Television footage showed them entering the venue together for the inauguration ceremony. The two leaders had also travelled in the same car in Tianjin during the SCO summit last year.
At a media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Putin had also spoken about diversifying the trade basket and increasing the possibilities of exports from India to Russia.
On the issue of Indians serving in the Russian military, Misri said, “The issue of our nationals being recruited into the Russian armed forces has been discussed between India and Russia at various levels on various occasions.” He added, “Our embassy in Moscow is monitoring this situation regularly with regard to the release and repatriation of these Indian citizens. We are in discussions with the Russian side to ensure that any cases that remain are discharged at the earliest.”
“At last count, we had information about 227 Indian nationals who had been recruited into the Russian army. And out of that number, we have information that 139 of our nationals have been discharged from the army. Unfortunately, we also have information about 51 people who have perished so far,” Misri said. “This remains an issue on which we are in constant discussions with the Russian side.”
The meeting in Bishkek centred on Modi’s call for peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and a wider review of India-Russia ties, with both sides discussing bilateral cooperation, regional issues and the status of Indians recruited into the Russian armed forces.
With PTI Inputs
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
