Russian President Putin dials PM Modi, briefs him on Alaska summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on phone and shared an assessment of his meeting with US President Donald Trump at Alaska.

Putin and Trump, on August 15, had discussed the possible resolution of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. This was second time Modi and Putin spoke in the past 10 days

Modi on his part underlined India’s consistent position for a peaceful resolution of the conflict through diplomacy and dialogue. He reiterated that India supports all efforts in this regard.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are set to meet on Monday and will work out details of a possible peace agreement. Top leadership of European nations are also expected to be a part of it.  

Modi and Putin also touched upon a number of issues of bilateral cooperation with a view to ‘further strengthen’ the ‘special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia.’

This is second time the two have stressed upon the bilateral relations.

On August 8, when Modi and Putin spoke, they had re-affirmed a commitment to ‘deepen’ the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Putin is slated to visit India later this year during the annual leaders’ summit, the 23^rd such meeting between the top leadership of two countries.

On August 6, the Russian President had met with US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy Steven Witkoff in Moscow and two days later called up PM Modi.

The Modi-Putin talk of ‘deepening ties’ comes amid US President Donald Trump having imposed tariffs on India. Trump had imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on India, taking the tariff on Indian goods being imported into US to 50 per cent. US and its European allies have often accused India of supporting Moscow’s “war machine” in Ukraine.

"India has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict and supports all efforts in this regard. I look forward to our continued exchanges in the days to come," the Prime Minister said in a social media post.