NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephonic conversation with each other on Friday. Modi asked Putin to resolve the Ukraine crisis via dialogue and diplomacy. However, Putin justified Russia’s military action and said that the Ukraine invasion was a special military operation. He also emphasized on the dangerous and provocative nature of the line of the Kyiv regime and its Western patrons aimed at escalating the crisis and disrupt efforts to resolve it politically and diplomatically.
Meantime, both leaders assessed the progress on the decisions taken during Putin’s India visit in 2021. India has also decided to continue its fuel imports from Russia. The leaders exchanged ideas on encouraging bilateral trade in agricultural goods, fertilizers and pharma products. They also expressed mutual intention for the comprehensive strengthening of the special and privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India.