Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday that “now is not an era of war,” marking the first public criticism of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine after months of neutrality, as India balances its reliance on Russia for military equipment and about one-fifth of its oil imports.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Putin now is “not an era of war,” India’s first criticism … [+] of the conflict. (Photo by Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
In their first meeting since the start of the war, Modi told Putin, “I know that today’s era is not of war,” adding that the biggest issues in the world today, especially in developing countries, are “food security, fuel security, fertilizers,” according to a translation of the meeting by Indian outlet PTI.
At the meeting in Uzbekistan, Modi also said he has already brought up his concerns with Putin “on the phone several times,” and urged Putin to move “toward the path of peace,” according to Brookings Institute senior fellow Tanvi Madan.
Putin reportedly told Modi he understands his concerns and wants to end the war “as soon as possible,” according to an India TV translation, although Russian officials have insisted they are set on achieving their military goals even as Russian forces retreat from the eastern Kharkiv region.
India has remained neutral on the war, with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar telling French newspaper Le Figaro weeks after the invasion began the balanced approach is due to a “complex chain of circumstances,” likely a reference to India’s long history of dependence on Russia for military equipment and oil.
Modi’s remarks come one day after Putin admitted that China, which has also remained neutral in the conflict, had “questions and concerns” about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.
Big Number
1,000 square miles. That’s how much ground Russia has lost in eastern Ukraine in the days before September 11, the New York Times reported, as Ukrainian forces push further into Russian-occupied territories in one of their biggest gains since the war broke out.
Key Background
India has taken a generally neutral approach to the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, not going as far as to condemn it but rather pushing for diplomatic negotiations and peace. In February, Indian officials abstained from a United Nations Security Council vote on Russia’s military threat, calling instead for “constructive diplomacy.” While India has not provided aid to either side of the conflict, it has boosted its imports of Russian oil in recent months and is heavily reliant on Russian arms, buying $22.8 billion in Russian military equipment between 2011 and 2021, according to the Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation.
India PM Modi Tells Putin Now Is ‘Not An Era’ For War In First Public Comments Against Russian Invasion
Topline
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday that “now is not an era of war,” marking the first public criticism of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine after months of neutrality, as India balances its reliance on Russia for military equipment and about one-fifth of its oil imports.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Putin now is “not an era of war,” India’s first criticism … [+] of the conflict. (Photo by Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)
Key Facts
In their first meeting since the start of the war, Modi told Putin, “I know that today’s era is not of war,” adding that the biggest issues in the world today, especially in developing countries, are “food security, fuel security, fertilizers,” according to a translation of the meeting by Indian outlet PTI.
At the meeting in Uzbekistan, Modi also said he has already brought up his concerns with Putin “on the phone several times,” and urged Putin to move “toward the path of peace,” according to Brookings Institute senior fellow Tanvi Madan.
Putin reportedly told Modi he understands his concerns and wants to end the war “as soon as possible,” according to an India TV translation, although Russian officials have insisted they are set on achieving their military goals even as Russian forces retreat from the eastern Kharkiv region.
India has remained neutral on the war, with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar telling French newspaper Le Figaro weeks after the invasion began the balanced approach is due to a “complex chain of circumstances,” likely a reference to India’s long history of dependence on Russia for military equipment and oil.
Modi’s remarks come one day after Putin admitted that China, which has also remained neutral in the conflict, had “questions and concerns” about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.
Big Number
1,000 square miles. That’s how much ground Russia has lost in eastern Ukraine in the days before September 11, the New York Times reported, as Ukrainian forces push further into Russian-occupied territories in one of their biggest gains since the war broke out.
Key Background
India has taken a generally neutral approach to the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, not going as far as to condemn it but rather pushing for diplomatic negotiations and peace. In February, Indian officials abstained from a United Nations Security Council vote on Russia’s military threat, calling instead for “constructive diplomacy.” While India has not provided aid to either side of the conflict, it has boosted its imports of Russian oil in recent months and is heavily reliant on Russian arms, buying $22.8 billion in Russian military equipment between 2011 and 2021, according to the Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation.
Further Reading
Putin Admits China Had ‘Concerns’ About Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine (Forbes)
Indian PM Modi tells Russia’s Putin now ‘is not an era of war’ (Reuters)
Why India Is Trying To Sit On The Fence In The Russia-Ukraine Conflict (Forbes)
‘Now is not an era of war’: India’s Modi berates Putin over Ukraine conflict (The Independent)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2022/09/16/india-pm-modi-tells-putin-now-is-not-an-era-for-war-in-first-public-comments-against-russian-invasion/