US Asks India to Urge Putin to End War in Ukraine
Washington, DC [US], July 16: Amid the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kyiv, the US has urged India to use its longstanding relationship with Russia to tell President Vladimir Putin to end his ‘illegal war’ in Ukraine. US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller highlighted the strong ties between Delhi and Moscow and encouraged India to urge Putin to respect the UN Charter and Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Matthew Miller’s Statement
In a press briefing, Miller said, ‘India has a longstanding relationship with Russia. We have encouraged India to utilize that relationship to urge President Putin to end his illegal war and to find a just and lasting peace. We will continue to impress this upon the Government of India, who is an important partner of ours.’
PM Modi’s Visit to Russia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Russia and met with President Vladimir Putin. They discussed eliminating non-tariff trade barriers and achieving a mutual trade volume of over USD 100 billion by 2030. They also talked about the possibility of establishing the EAEU-India Free Trade Area and developing a bilateral settlement system using national currencies.
Order of St Andrew the Apostle
During his visit, PM Modi was presented with the Order of St Andrew the Apostle, Russia’s highest civilian honor, by President Putin. The award was originally bestowed on PM Modi in 2019, but he received it physically during this visit.
PM Modi’s Call for Peace
PM Modi emphasized the importance of peace for future generations, stating that solutions are not possible on battlegrounds. He said, ‘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.’
PM Modi also expressed his pain over the loss of innocent lives, especially children, in conflicts and terror attacks, calling it ‘heart-wrenching.’
