Moscow/New Delhi: In a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s long-standing position in favour of dialogue and diplomacy in the context of the ongoing situation in Ukraine, the Prime Minister’s Office stated in New Delhi.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today as agreed at the BRICS Summit on June 23–24, 2022, Kremlin said.
At the request of Modi, Putin gave an update on the key aspects of Russia’s ongoing special military operation in Ukraine and underscored the “dangerous and provocative” nature of the approach of the Kyiv regime and its Western patrons “to escalate the crisis and torpedo efforts to resolve it by political and diplomatic methods”.
Kremlin informed that the two leaders reviewed in detail the situation in the global food market. Putin drew attention to “systemic mistakes by a number of countries” that disrupted the entire system of free trade in foodstuffs and provoked substantial price hikes.
“The illegitimate anti-Russia sanctions have compounded the already complicated situation. The very same factors have also impacted the global energy market,” Putin told Modi and also noted that Russia had been and remained a reliable producer and supplier of grain crops, fertiliser and energy carriers to Indian partners, among others.
The leaders had a detailed discussion of topical issues of Russian-Indian relations and focused on the subsequent development of mutually beneficial economic ties. The two leaders reviewed the implementation of the decisions taken during President Putin’s visit to India in December 2021. In particular, they exchanged ideas on how bilateral trade in agricultural goods, fertilizers and pharma products could be encouraged further.
They also noted a substantial increase in bilateral trade volumes, including mutual deliveries of agricultural produce. According to Kremlin, both leaders voiced their mutual commitment to strengthening the specially privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India. They also agreed to continue their personal contacts and interaction at other levels.
– global bihari bureau
