EU chief dials PM Modi as Europe holds talks on Ukraine, hails India’s role in ‘bringing Russia to end war’

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of Europe’s ongoing diplomatic push on the Ukraine conflict, praising India’s role in pressing Russia to end the war.

In a post on X after speaking with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, von der Leyen said Brussels “warmly welcomes” New Delhi’s continued engagement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. She stressed that the war carries “global security consequences” and undermines economic stability, calling it a “risk to the entire world.”

The EU chief also noted that the two sides aim to adopt a joint strategic agenda at the next EU–India summit, expected in 2026, and reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to concluding the long-pending Free Trade Agreement negotiations by the end of this year. “To achieve this, progress is needed now,” she said.

The call comes as US President Donald Trump has launched a sweeping tariff offensive against India, imposing a 25% reciprocal duty on Indian goods along with an additional 25% levy linked to New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil- among the steepest in the world.

He has accused India of “fuelling Russia’s deadly attacks on Ukraine" by buying discounted crude, even as Washington has stopped short of harsher sanctions on Moscow. Earlier, Donald Trump said that he dismissed India’s offer to slash tariffs on US goods as “too late," calling the relationship a “one-sided disaster" that unfairly benefits New Delhi.