Putin praises PM Modi’s ideas on Ukraine-Russia settlement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “very good ideas” on a mutual settlement of the Ukraine conflict and raises the issue at “every meeting”, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

Putin made the remarks on Thursday at the annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club, according to state-run TASS news agency.

“As for Prime Minister Modi's position on ending wars, I can say that he is one of those world leaders who, despite our very good, even friendly relations, including at the personal level, constantly raises the issue and asks questions about ending the conflict in Ukraine,” Putin said. The Russian leader said Modi “brings up these matters at every meeting we have and takes a keen interest in them”.

“He has very good ideas aimed at finding mutually acceptable solutions,” Putin added.

Ahead of the BRICS summit in New Delhi last month, Putin and Modi held talks, during which the Russian leader briefed Modi on the overall situation regarding the Ukraine war, which began in February 2022, and ongoing peace initiatives. A few days before that, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia would welcome any peace efforts by India to end the Ukraine conflict, noting that Moscow's strategy aligns closely with New Delhi's position for a resolution through dialogue and diplomacy.

Putin, at the forum on Wednesday, also expressed appreciation for India's cultural diversity and unity.

“India cannot fail to amaze with its scale and diversity,” he said. “Few people know this, but Mr (Indian Prime Minister Narendra) Modi told me that of the 1.5 billion people, 600 million Indians speak their native language, Hindi, while most speak their own languages, and they all live together — amazing,” he said.

Asserting that this cannot fail to inspire admiration, he said, “There is something unique about Indian culture that can certainly serve as an example of how diversity and unity can coexist. It is certainly something to learn from.”

 No Plan To Attack Europe, Says Putin

Moscow: President Vladimir Putin reiterated Moscow's long-held position that Russia is not planning to attack European countries but will respond to aggression with “all weapons” in its arsenal.

In remarks at a foreign policy forum, Putin accused the West and Europe of escalating tensions by talking about preparing for a war with Moscow in the coming years, conducting military drills in the Baltic Sea, and seizing Russian vessels. His remarks followed Moscow's warning to NATO that it would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons to defend Kaliningrad should any members of the military alliance try to cut off the Baltic exclave from the rest of Russia.

Several Russian embassies in Europe this week issued statements that said Moscow has “information that NATO is preparing (an) air and naval blockade of Kaliningrad and (the) Kaliningrad region.”

They accused European leaders of “playing a dangerous game” by saying Russia might attack another country or ramp up a campaign of destabilising attacks with drones and sabotage.