India, on Tuesday, reacted to the United States’ remark on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting in Moscow and reiterated that it has always called for respecting the UN Charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty.
News agency ANI quoted sources saying that the Indian side will convey to the Russians that “there is no solution on the battlefield” and that “dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward.
The remarks from India came moments after the State Department Spokersperson Matthew Miller, on Monday, said that the US would encourage India to impress upon Russia that any resolution to Ukraine conflict adheres to the UN Charter.
What did US say?
The US urged India should tell Russia to respect UN charter. “We did just see Modi, like (Hungarian Prime Minister) Viktor Orban, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. We view this as a significant move,” Miller said.
“We encourage India, along with other nations interacting with Russia, to ensure that any resolution to the Ukraine conflict adheres to the UN Charter and respects Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. India is a strategic partner with whom we engage in open and honest discussions, including our concerns about its ties with Russia,” he added.
The remark by the US came moments after an informal meeting between PM Modi and Putin at the Russian President’s Novo-Ogaryovo residence on July 8. The Indian prime minister in on a two-day (July 8 and 9) Moscow visit.
During the one-on-one talks, Modi and Putin discussed in detail about ways to further develop India and Russia relations.
The US appears to have been keeping a hawk-eye on PM Modi’s Russia visit. Soon after Modi-Putin meeting, the US said it was “concerned” with the growing bilateral relationship between India and Russia.
US on Modi’s Russia visit
Responding to a question on Modi’s Russia visit, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said: “India is a strategic partner with whom we engage in a full and frank dialogue. And that includes our concerns about their relationship with Russia.”
US will look into Modi’s remarks in Russia
Miller further said that he would be looking into the public remarks by PM Modi in Russia to see what he talked about.
“But as I said, we made quite clear directly with India our concerns about their relationship with Russia. So we would hope India and any other country, when they engage with Russia, would make clear that Russia should respect the UN charter, and should respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he added.
Why is the US concerned with Modi’s Russia visit?
The US has established strong relations with India, seeing it as a strong partner in the face of the rise of China, with President Joe Biden inviting Modi for a state visit last year.
Also, the US has been persistently putting pressure on India to distance itself from Russia ever since Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. However, India has resisted the pressure, citing its longstanding ties with Russia and its economic needs. Despite this, New Delhi has voiced for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing war.
Modi in Russia
Modi landed in Russia on Monday around 5:30 pm (IST). The Indian PM is in Moscow at Putin’s invitation to hold the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit.
Upon arrival, Modi was hosted by Putin for a private informal meeting and dinner at his dacha or country home in the suburb of Novo-Ogaryovo – a rare honour reserved by the Russian president for only a few visiting leaders.
With inputs from agencies
Link to article –
As Modi meets Putin, US urges India to tell Russia to respect UN charter
