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Putin dials PM Modi: India calls for peaceful resolution of Ukraine war as Trump meets Zelensky
This call comes ahead of US President Donald Trump's meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky at the White House
Russian President Vladimir Putin called Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, just days after he met US President Donald Trump, and hours before Trump was to meet Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in ongoing efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
In the call, PM Modi reiterated India's stance on the Ukraine war and called for a peaceful resolution.
“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 of the Ukraine conflict and supports all efforts in this regard. I look forward to our continued exchanges in the days to come,” PM Modi wrote on X.
As per the handout, the two leaders also discussed a number of issues of bilateral cooperation. The two leaders agreed to remain in close touch.
Putin shares with Modi details of Trump meet
During their call, Russian President Putin also shared his assessment of his recent meeting with US President Trump in Alaska.
Last week, Donald Trump met Putin in Alaska as part of the US' push for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. While no immediate deal was signed after the summit, Trump stated he made “big progress” during the talks with Putin.
The main goal for Trump was to work towards a ceasefire.
Ahead of this meeting, the US president also warned Russia of "very severe consequences" if it did not halt the war in Ukraine.
However, after his meeting with Putin, Trump took to Truth Social and wrote that "it was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up."
Days after this, Trump is now set to hold a meeting with Ukrainian president Zelensky regarding a ceasefire deal. Zelensky and European leaders are set to meet the US president on Monday at the White House.
Follow LIVE Updates on Zelensky-Trump meet here
India, Russia under tariff scanner
Meetings with Zelensky and Putin aside, India and Russia have also been Trump's tariff radar as the US president pushes for a truce. Last month. Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on India for its “very high tariffs on US goods” and as a penalty for New Delhi's purchase of Russian oil and participation in BRICS.
However, a week after this imposition, Trump continued to take jibes at India and Russia, resulting to his announcement of an additional 25 percent tariff on New Delhi. With this, India now faces a 50 percent tariff rate in the US.
