New Delhi: The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has praised prime minister, Narendra Modi, efforts to help end the Ukraine conflict, saying Modi regularly raises the issue and has “very good ideas” for finding a solution acceptable to both sides. Putin also thanked the prime minister for supporting a peaceful resolution to the war.
Speaking at the Valdai International Discussion Club, Putin said Modi continues to raise the Ukraine conflict despite India’s close and friendly ties with Russia. He said the Indian prime minister is interested in ending the conflict and supports efforts to find a solution through peaceful means.
Putin’s remarks come weeks after he met Modi in New Delhi on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed India-Russia relations and major regional and global developments, while Modi reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy were the way forward for resolving conflicts.
Modi also said India was ready to support efforts aimed at peace. The meeting was their second interaction of the year after Modi and Putin met in Bishkek on August 31 during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
India has continued to maintain relations with both Russia and Ukraine during the war. While New Delhi has retained its long-standing strategic partnership with Moscow, it has also maintained high-level political engagement with Kyiv and repeatedly called for dialogue and diplomacy.
Recently, the external affairs minister, S Jaishankar, had a meeting with the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at Kyiv. This meeting had discussions on relations between India and Ukraine and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
India has also made clear that its relationship with Russia does not prevent it from engaging Ukraine. New Delhi has maintained communication with both sides while arguing that the conflict cannot be resolved through military action alone and that dialogue and negotiations are necessary.
Modi has repeatedly said India is willing to support meaningful efforts aimed at achieving peace in Ukraine. He has also maintained that India’s position is based on dialogue, diplomacy and a humanitarian approach to the conflict.
Following Putin’s remarks, the home minister, Amit Shah, shared a video and message on X praising the Russian president’s appreciation of Modi’s peace efforts. Shah said Putin’s remarks, which came on Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary, were a matter of pride for Indians and reflected India’s growing role in global peace efforts.
Shah also said that at a time of wars, tensions and instability, Modi has continued to emphasize dialogue and diplomacy instead of war. He linked this approach to India’s traditional message of peace and the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (The world is one family).