On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During this call, President Putin shared his perspectives on his meeting with US President Donald Trump, which occurred in Alaska last week. The meeting between President Trump and President Putin took place on August 15th, focusing on a ceasefire about the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, no agreement was reached to implement a ceasefire in the ongoing war.
Expressing gratitude to President Putin, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India's steadfast position on peacefully resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He emphasized the importance of diplomacy and dialogue, affirming India's support for all efforts in this direction. The leaders also discussed various issues to strengthen the special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia further.
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PM Modi wrote on X, 'I thank my friend, President Putin, for his phone call and for sharing insights on his recent meeting with President Trump in Alaska. India has consistently called for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine dispute and supports all related efforts. I look forward to our continued interaction in the coming days.' It's noteworthy that US President Donald Trump has imposed a 50% tariff on India's oil imports from Russia, asserting that by buying oil from Russia, India is indirectly funding the war in Ukraine.
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India had lodged a strong objection to the US tariffs. The Ministry of External Affairs stated, 'In recent days, the US has targeted India's oil imports from Russia. We have already clarified our position on these issues. Our oil imports from Russia are based on international market conditions and aim to ensure the energy security of India’s 1.4 billion people. It is unfortunate that the US decided to impose additional tariffs on India while many other countries are also importing oil from Russia for their national interests. We reiterate that these steps are unjust, incorrect, and baseless. India will take every necessary measure to protect its national interests.'
India Welcomed the Alaska Meeting
India welcomed the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Alaska, commending the leadership towards peace. Following the summit, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement saying, 'India appreciates the progress made in the Alaska summit. The path forward can only be paved by dialogue and diplomacy. The world desires a swift end to the conflict in Ukraine.'
