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Indian Prime Minister Modi Embraces President Putin in Moscow Amid Criticism
Indian Prime Minister Modi faces criticism as he embraces President Putin in Moscow. The meeting sparks debate and raises questions about international relations and alliances.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent embrace of President Vladimir Putin in Moscow has sparked criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The two leaders met in Moscow on Monday and shared a hug, drawing disappointment from Zelenskyy who described it as “a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts.”
Russian missiles struck a children’s hospital in Kyiv on Monday, a move that drew widespread condemnation from politicians. Modi, while addressing the bloodshed, referenced his meeting with Putin, which involved over four hours of discussions.
“Be it war, a struggle or a terrorist attack, every person who believes in humanity, when there is loss of life, he is pained,” Modi said. “When innocent children are killed, when we see innocent children dying, then the heart pains. And that pain is very horrible.”
During their meeting, Modi mentioned that they exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine and listened to each other’s perspectives.
Modi’s visit marked his first trip to Russia since the country’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While Modi has balanced condemning Russia and advocating for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, his gesture of embracing the Russian president without endorsing the war highlights the complexity of their partnership.
Modi emphasized the importance of seeking peace through dialogue rather than on the battlefield, stating, “a solution is not possible on the battlefield. Between bombs, guns, and bullets, a solution and peace talks cannot be successful. And we have to adopt the path of peace only through talks.”
Amid Russia’s growing closeness to China and increasing isolation over the Ukraine conflict, Modi and Putin also discussed the issue of Indian nationals who were misled into joining the Russian army. India’s federal investigation agency dismantled a network that deceived individuals with promises of jobs in Russia, only to send them into combat in Ukraine.