Days after his return from the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, calling once again for “dialogue and diplomacy” to end the Ukraine conflict, while “expressing support” for Mr. Putin’s actions during the June 24 failed mutiny in Russia. During the conversation, which the Kremlin said had occurred “at the initiative of the Indian side”, PM Modi also spoke about upcoming contacts between both leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) virtual summit on July 4, and the BRICS and G-20 summits in August and September, and informed Mr. Putin about his recent visit to Washington. On Friday Chinese President Xi Jinping and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed they will attend the virtual summit, as will leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
“President Putin informed PM about the recent developments in Russia,” said a statement issued by the government. “While discussing the situation in Ukraine, PM reiterated his call for dialogue and diplomacy,” it said.
In a more detailed statement, the Kremlin said that Mr. Putin had given his assessment of the current situation in the “special military operation zone” in Ukraine, adding that he “stressed Kiev’s utter refusal to undertake political and diplomatic steps to resolve the conflict”.
