CNN
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared to reject Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine outright, telling Russian President Vladimir Putin that now is not the time for war.
Amid a series of setbacks for the Russian leader, Modi told him he needed to “take the path of peace” and reminded him of the importance of “democracy, diplomacy and dialogue.”
Modi’s comments came during a face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of a regional summit on Friday and underscored Russia’s growing isolation on the diplomatic stage. They came just a day after Putin admitted that China also had “questions and concerns” about the invasion.
“I know today’s times are not wars, we have spoken to you on the phone many times about democracy, diplomacy and dialogue are these issues that touch the world,” Modi told Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. Samar, Uzbekistan Han City.
“We will definitely have an opportunity in the coming days to discuss how we can go down the road to peace, and I will also have an opportunity to hear your views,” he added, according to a readout from a meeting of India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or External Affairs.
Putin responded by telling the Indian leader that he was aware of his concerns.
“I know your position on the conflict in Ukraine and I know your concerns. We want this to end as soon as possible,” he said.
Modi’s apparent criticism of the Russian invasion is just the latest setback for Putin, whose military has suffered a string of major defeats on the battlefield in recent weeks. Ukraine claims to have recaptured some 8,000 square kilometers of territory.
Diplomatically, Moscow also appears to be on a losing streak, highlighted by exchanges at the Samarkand summit, which brought together leaders from Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran and four Central Asian nations.
Moscow and Beijing appear keen to present a united front at the summit to counterbalance the United States and its allies.
However, the Russian invasion has shown signs of divisiveness, unsettling leaders in former Soviet territories in Central Asia, who fear Russia could also encroach on their lands.
India and China are the biggest customers of Russian oil, and the suggestion that both sides have reservations about war over the past few days has given Moscow a lot to think about.
Earlier in the summit, Putin said after acknowledging China’s concerns, “We attach great importance to the balanced position of our Chinese friends on the Ukraine crisis.”
Xi Jinping and Putin met for the first time since the war.hear what they discuss
Like Beijing, New Delhi, which has ties with Moscow dating back to the Cold War, has so far largely refrained from outright condemnation of Russian aggression, which remains India’s largest arms supplier.
In a statement after their meeting on Friday, India’s foreign ministry said the discussions between the two leaders “also covered issues of global food security, energy security and fertilizer supply in the context of challenges posed by the current geopolitical situation” .
“They agreed to keep in touch,” the ministry added.
The meeting came as heavy shelling continued in southern and eastern Ukraine, which had been recaptured from Russian forces. Ukrainian officials said they found at least 440 graves in a mass grave in the recently liberated city of Izium in the Kharkiv region.