Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday appealed for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the crisis, even as his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen hoped that India will use its influence over Russia to end the war.
Speaking to reporters here after bilateral talks, Modi said he discussed the Ukraine crisis and appealed for an “immediate ceasefire” in Ukraine.
“We appealed for immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and return to dialogue and diplomacy for resolving the crisis,” Modi said. Frederiksen hoped that India will influence Russia on Ukraine and asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to “stop this war and end the killings”.
“My message is very clear that Putin has got to stop this war and to end the killings. I, of course, hope that India will influence Russia also in this discussion,” she said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen and the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues of mutual interest to boost the bilateral relationship.
Mr. Modi, who arrived here from Germany, was received by his Danish counterpart at the airport as a special gesture.
Mr. Modi was welcomed by Ms. Frederiksen upon his arrival at Marienborg, the official residence of the Prime Minister of Denmark, for talks.
"Conversations in Copenhagen aimed at boosting friendship. PM Frederiksen welcomed PM @narendramodi at Marienborg @Statsmin," Prime Minister's Office tweeted.
It is Prime Minister's first visit to Denmark, where he will take part in bilateral and multilateral engagements on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Prime Minister had said in his departure statement that the visit will “provide an opportunity to review the progress in our unique ‘Green Strategic Partnership’ with Denmark, as well as other aspects of our bilateral relations.”
‘India-Denmark: A Green Strategic Partnership’ was established during a virtual summit in September 2020. This partnership was translated into a result-oriented five-year action plan during Prime Minister Frederiksen’s India visit in October 2021.
Mr. Modi will also meet Queen Margrethe II. He will also attend the India-Denmark Business Roundtable and interact with the Indian community in Denmark.
Over 200 Danish companies in India are actively engaged in taking forward ‘Make in India’, ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’, ‘Digital India’ and other key national missions.
More than 60 Indian companies in Denmark, mainly in the IT sector, are further cementing bilateral business-to-business ties.
Denmark is home to a robust Indian diaspora of 16,000 people.
Apart from the bilateral engagements with Denmark, he will also take part in the 2nd India-Nordic Summit along with Prime Ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway where they will take stock of the cooperation since the First India-Nordic Summit in 2018.
"The Summit will focus on subjects like post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change, innovation and technology, renewable energy, the evolving global security scenario and India-Nordic cooperation in the Arctic region," Mr. Modi had said.
The summit will focus on economic engagement, green partnership and mobility and cooperation in the Arctic region.
"On the sidelines of the Summit, I will also meet the leaders of the other four Nordic countries and review the progress in India’s bilateral relations with them," Mr. Modi had said.
"Nordic countries are important partners for India in sustainability, renewable energy, digitisation and innovation. The visit will help in expanding our multifaceted cooperation with the Nordic region," he added.
India's trade with Nordic countries stands at over $5 billion (2020-21) and a cumulative FDI of over $3 billion (April 2000- March 2021).
