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India’s Modi urges Putin to end Ukraine war, US media praises his call
On Friday (Sep 16), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and urged him to end war in Ukraine.
"In the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Prime Minister reiterated his call for an early cessation of hostilities and the need for dialogue and diplomacy," said a statement issued by the Indian External Affairs Ministry, following the meeting between Putin and Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The two discussed matters pertaining to "global food security, energy security and availability of fertilizers in the context of the challenges emanating from the current geo-political situation," the statement said.
They also "appreciated the sustained momentum in bilateral ties, including contacts at various levels."
It was their first meeting this year, which marks the 75th anniversary year of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
The Modi-Putin conversation in Samarkand was widely carried by the mainstream American media.
The mainstream American media praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for telling Russian President Vladimir Putin that this is not the time for war in Ukraine.
“Modi rebukes Putin over war in Ukraine,” The Washington Post reported in a headline. “In a stunning public rebuke, Modi told Putin: “Today’s era is not an era of war, and I have spoken to you on the phone about this,” the daily reported.
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“The rare reproach showed the 69-year-old Russian strongman coming under extraordinary pressure from all sides,” the Post said.
It was the lead story on the webpage of both The Washington Post and The New York Times.
“India’s Leader Tells Putin That Now Is Not an Era for War,” The New York Times said in its headline. “The tone of the meeting was friendly, with both leaders referring to their long shared history. Before Mr. Modi made his comments, Mr. Putin said he understood India’s concerns about the war in Ukraine,” the daily said.
“Mr. Modi’s comments came a day after President Xi Jinping of China — in his first face-to-face meeting with Mr. Putin since the invasion began — struck a far more subdued tone than the Russian President, and steered clear in his public comments of any mention of Ukraine,” reported TheNew York Times.
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Responding to Mr. Modi, Mr. Putin said, “I know your position on the conflict in Ukraine, about your concerns that you constantly express. We will do our best to stop this as soon as possible.
Only, unfortunately, the opposing side, the leadership of Ukraine, announced its abandonment of the negotiation process, declared that it wants to achieve its goals by military means, as they say, ‘on the battlefield.’ Nevertheless, we will always keep you informed of what is happening there.”
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