 "White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre, ANI")
The US on Tuesday said that it believes that India is in a strong position to urge its Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his brutal and unproved war in Ukraine as New Delhi enjoys a long-standing relationship with Moscow.
Addressing a daily briefing on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “…We believe India’s long-standing relationship with Russia gives it the ability to urge President Putin, to end his brutal war, an unprovoked war in Ukraine…India is a strategic partner with whom we engage in full and frank dialogue, including their relationship with Russia and we’ve talked about this before.”
Pierre said it’s critical that all countries, including India, support efforts to realise an enduring and just peace when it comes to Ukraine.
“It is for President Putin to end. President Putin started the war, and he can end the war…,” she added.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsJean-Pierre made these comments after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral discussions with Russian President Putin, where PM Modi raised the issue of children dying in conflicts, describing it as “heart-wrenching.”
The Prime Minister expressed that the loss of lives pains everyone who values humanity.
These discussions follow the tragic missile strike on a children’s hospital in Kyiv, claiming the lives of 37 people.
“Be it war, conflicts, terror attacks - everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives. But when innocent children are murdered, when we see innocent children dying, it is heart-wrenching. That pain is immense. I also held a detailed discussion with you over this,” PM Modi said during the meeting.
PM Modi said that there is no solution on the battlefield and added that peace talks do not succeed amid bombs, guns and bullets.
“As a friend, I have always said that for the bright future of our coming generations, peace is of utmost importance. But I also know that solutions are not possible on battlegrounds. Amid bombs, guns and bullets, solutions and peace talks do not succeed. We will have to follow the path to peace only through talks,” PM Modi said.
It was PM Modi’s first visit to Russia since the war started between Moscow and Kyiv in 2022. India has always advocated “peace and diplomacy” for resolving the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Earlier on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed disappointment over PM Modi’s visit to Russia, which he termed a “devastating blow to peace efforts.”
Zelenskyy took to social media platform X to post that on the same day 37 people, including three children, were killed and 170 others were injured due to Russia’s missile strike at the largest children’s hospital in Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv.
“In Ukraine today, 37 people were killed, three of whom were children, and 170 were injured, including 13 children, as a result of Russia’s brutal missile strike. A Russian missile struck the largest children’s hospital in Ukraine, targeting young cancer patients. Many were buried under the rubble. It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world’s largest democracy hug the world’s most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day” the Ukrainian leader said.
PM Modi was on a two-day official visit to Russia from July 8-9. During his visit, he held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. PM Modi also addressed the Indian community in Moscow.
With inputs from agencies