Vladimir Putin has received a stinging rebuke from Narendra Modi, with India’s President telling his Russian counterpart it was not the time for war during remarks during a televised meeting in Uzbekistan. Putin has repeatedly said Russia is not isolated because it can look eastwards to major Asian powers such as China and India.
But at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Mr Modi made his concerns plain.
Speaking during a meeting in the ancient Uzbek Silk Road city of Samarkand, he said: “I know that today’s era is not an era of war, and I have spoken to you on the phone about this.”As Modi made the remark, Russia’s paramount leader since 1999 pursed his lips, glanced at Modi and then looked down before touching the hair on the back of his head.
Putin told Modi that he understood the Indian leader had concerns about Ukraine, but that Moscow was doing everything it could to end the conflict.
He replied: “I know your position on the conflict in Ukraine, the concerns that you constantly express. We will do everything to stop this as soon as possible.”
He insisted Ukraine had rejected negotiations. Ukraine has said it will fight until it drives all Russian troops from its land.
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