The United States has encouraged India to use its longstanding relationship with Russia to urge President Vladimir Putin to end his illegal war in Ukraine. During a press briefing on Monday, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the US has encouraged India to utilize its unique position to urge Putin to end the war and find a lasting peace. Miller emphasized the importance of respecting the UN Charter and Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Miller’s remarks came in response to media inquiries regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Russia. The Ukrainian President had described the visit as a devastating blow to peace efforts. During his visit to Moscow, PM Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and outlined their goals to eliminate non-tariff trade barriers and achieve a mutual trade volume of over $100 billion by 2030. They also agreed to continue dialogue on liberalizing bilateral trade, including the possibility of establishing the EAEU-India Free Trade Area. Additionally, the two leaders decided to work on developing a bilateral settlement system using national currencies and the introduction of digital financial instruments for mutual settlements.
In Russia, PM Modi was presented with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle the First-Called, Russia’s highest civilian honor. While the award was bestowed on PM Modi in 2019, he received it physically during his recent visit. During his talks with Putin, PM Modi emphasized that peace is paramount for future generations and reiterated that solutions cannot be found on the battlefield. He highlighted the importance of pursuing peace through dialogue, stating that solutions and peace talks cannot succeed amidst bombs, guns, and bullets.
This was PM Modi’s first visit to Russia since the war began in 2022. India has consistently advocated for peace and diplomacy to resolve the conflict but has continued to purchase Russian oil. PM Modi expressed his profound sadness over the loss of life in the war, particularly the tragic deaths of innocent children, emphasizing the immense pain caused by such tragedies.
Despite advocating for peace, India’s continued purchase of Russian oil has drawn criticism from some quarters. The US has previously urged India to reconsider its reliance on Russian energy, particularly in light of the war in Ukraine. However, India has maintained that its relationship with Russia is vital for its strategic interests and that it will continue to pursue its own path in balancing its relations with various countries.
