Putin, Modi reaffirm vow to strengthen bilateral ties

NEW DELHI: Russian President Putin dialled PM Modi Monday to share his "insights" on his meeting with President Trump in Alaska. "India has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the (Ukraine) conflict and supports all efforts in this regard," Modi posted on X. Putin and he agreed to continue his dialogue with the PM on other pressing international issues, Russian authorities said.

"The two also touched upon a number of issues of bilateral cooperation with a view to further strengthen the special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia," said the Centre, adding that the two agreed to remain in close touch.

Putin is scheduled to visit India this year for the India-Russia annual summit. Foreign minister S Jaishankar will be in Russia this week for talks with counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Modi last spoke to Putin on Aug 8 and underlined India's "unwavering" support for resolution of the Ukraine conflict through political and diplomatic means.

Putin, Modi reaffirm vow to strengthen bilateral ties

That conversation, in which Putin and Modi reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral ties, came shortly after the announcement by Trump administration that it would impose secondary sanctions on India for its energy imports from Russia.

Officials close to Trump have continued to accuse India of funding the Russian war machine. According to a Reuters report on Monday, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said India's purchases of Russian crude were funding Moscow's war in Ukraine and had to stop, adding that New Delhi was "now cozying up to both Russia and China". Navarro wrote in an opinion piece published in Financial Times, "If India wants to be treated as a strategic partner of the US, it needs to start acting like one."