On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives, particularly children, in conflicts and terrorist attacks during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. His remarks followed a tragic missile strike on Kyiv's main children's hospital by Russian forces. "If innocent children are murdered; if innocent children die, it is heart-wrenching," PM Modi said, sitting beside Putin.
In their conversation, PM Modi stressed that the war in Ukraine cannot be resolved through violence and must be addressed through peaceful negotiations. "As a friend, I have also said that for the brighter future of our next generation, peace is of utmost importance," he emphasized.
PM Modi also strongly condemned terrorism, recalling the suffering caused by attacks in Moscow and India's long-standing battle against terrorism over the past 40-50 years. "When terror attacks took place in Moscow, I can imagine the pain it caused and I condemn all kinds of terrorism," he stated.
Highlighting the strong ties between India and Russia, PM Modi expressed confidence in the continued strengthening of their relationship, particularly in the energy sector, which has been crucial during global fuel challenges. "I am grateful to you for this warm welcome and respect. We got an unprecedented victory in the elections in India, and I thank you for the wishes you conveyed. In March, you also won in the elections, and I congratulate you for that," he added.
Reflecting on their long-standing partnership, PM Modi noted their frequent interactions over the past decades, underscoring the depth of their relations. "For the past 2.5 decades, I have a relation with Russia and you. We have met 17 times over the past 10 years, and we have had nearly 22 bilateral meetings over the last 25 years. This itself reflects the depth of our relations. I assure you that our upcoming terms will only strengthen our ties further," he said.
PM Modi also acknowledged Russia's support in meeting India's fuel needs, which helped stabilize the international market. "When the world was facing the challenge of fuels, your support helped us fulfil the petrol and diesel requirements of the common man. Not just this, the world should accept that India-Russia agreement regarding fuel played a big role in bringing stability to the international market," he remarked.
Addressing broader global challenges, PM Modi highlighted the difficulties posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and various conflicts over the past five years, reiterating India's commitment to condemning terrorism in all its forms and emphasizing the need for global cooperation to tackle these issues.
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