Peace in Ukraine call of entire humanity: PM to Putin during bilateral in China

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Vladimir Putin on Monday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in China's Tianjin, saying that the way to find lasting peace in Ukraine is the call of entire humanity.

"We have been continuously discussing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. We welcome all the recent efforts for peace. We hope that all parties will move forward constructively. A way has to be found to end the conflict as soon as possible and establish lasting peace," the Prime Minister said.

Furthermore, PM Modi reaffirmed the resilience of India-Russia ties through challenging times.

"India and Russia have always stood shoulder to shoulder even in the most difficult situations. Our close cooperation is important not only for the people of both countries but also for global peace, stability and prosperity," he said.

PM Modi added that his meetings with Putin have always been 'memorable', providing opportunities for candid exchanges and strengthening trust.

"I always feel that meeting you has been a memorable experience. We get an opportunity to exchange information on many things. We have been in constant touch. There have been many high-level meetings between the two sides on a regular basis. 140 crore Indians are eagerly waiting for you for our 23rd summit in December this year. This reflects the depth and breadth of the special and privileged partnership," the Prime Minister said.

The power-pact meeting came days after Donald Trump's punitive 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhi's purchase of Russian crude oil came into effect. The US has accused New Delhi of funding Russia's war against Ukraine -- a charge India has categorically denied, calling out the West's 'hypocrisy'.