The U.S. urges India to emphasize respect for Ukraine's sovereignty in talks with Russia amid ongoing conflict.
In Short:
- U.S. Concern: Raised issues about India's relationship with Russia.
- Modi's Visit: PM Modi meets Russian President Putin in Russia.
- U.S. Expectation: Hope that India stresses UN charter and Ukraine's territorial integrity.
- India's Stance: Maintains ties with Russia but advocates for peace.
The United States has raised concerns with India regarding its relationship with Russia amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict. This comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a two-day visit to Russia, met informally with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
A State Department spokesperson highlighted these concerns during a press briefing, stating, "We have directly expressed our concerns to India about their relationship with Russia," as reported by Reuters.
Matthew Miller from the State Department added that the U.S. expects India, and other countries engaging with Russia, to urge Moscow to respect the UN charter and Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Since the war began in February 2022, India has faced pressure from the U.S. to distance itself from Russia. Despite this, India has maintained its longstanding ties with Russia due to economic needs but has called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Modi's Visit to Russia:
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Russia on Monday at President Putin's invitation for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. This is Modi's first visit to Russia since the Ukraine conflict began. His last visit was in 2019 for an economic summit in Vladivostok.
Upon arrival, President Putin hosted Modi for a private, informal meeting and dinner at his country home in Novo-Ogaryovo, a rare honor for visiting leaders.
Post-Meeting Statements:
After their meeting, Modi expressed his gratitude to Putin in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Looking forward to further talks to strengthen the bonds of friendship between India and Russia."
Putin praised Modi's contributions to India's progress, congratulating him on his reelection and acknowledging his energetic leadership. "You have your own ideas and are able to achieve results in the interests of India and its people. India now ranks as the world's third-largest economy," Putin remarked.