India’s relationship with Russia gives it ability to urge Russian President Putin to end war in Ukraine: US

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Washington, D.C. : The White House on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, said that India’s ties with Russia give it the ability to urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine. The statement came after PM Modi emphasized to President Putin that the solution to the Ukraine conflict lay in dialogue and not on the battlefield.

While addressing a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre,  called India the US’ “strategic partner” with whom they hold “full and frank dialogue” including New Delhi’s ties with Russia. She called it critical that all nations, including India support efforts to realize an enduring peace when it comes to Ukraine.

Asked about PM Modi’s meeting with Putin, Jean-Pierre said, “India is a strategic partner with whom we engage in full and frank dialogue, including their relationship with Russia and we’ve talked about this before. So we think it’s critical that all countries, including India, support efforts to realize an enduring and just peace when it comes to Ukraine. It is important for all our allies to realize this.”

“We also believe India’s long-standing relationship with Russia gives it the ability to urge President Putin, to end his brutal war, an unprovoked war in Ukraine. It is for President Putin to end. President Putin started the war, and he can end the war.”

Jean-Pierre made the statement after Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his bilateral talks with Russian President Putin raised the issue of killings of children during conflicts and said it is “heart-wrenching” when innocent children die. The Prime Minister said that everyone who believes in humanity is hurt when there is a loss of lives.

This comes in the wake of the recent missile strike on a children’s hospital in Kyiv, which killed 37 children.

“Be it war, conflicts, terror attacks – everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives. But when innocent children are murdered, when we see innocent children dying, it is heart-wrenching. That pain is immense. I also held a detailed discussion with you over this,” PM Modi said during the meeting. President of Ukraine, Volodymir Zelenskyy called it a “huge disappointment” and a “devastating blow” to peace efforts to see Modi hugging Putin in light of the attack on the hospital.

Modi reiterated to Putin that there is no solution on the battlefield.

“As a friend, I have always said that for the bright future of our coming generations, peace is of utmost importance. But I also know that solutions are not possible on battlegrounds. Amid bombs, guns and bullets, solutions and peace talks do not succeed. We will have to follow the path to peace only through talks,” Modi told Putin.

PM Modi was on a two-day official visit to Russia from July 8-9. PM Modi also addressed the Indian community in Moscow. A wide-ranging Joint Statement was released by the two countries at the end of the meetings.