Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin centered their bilateral talks around critical issues such as terrorism and the ongoing Ukraine war. During their meeting, President Putin acknowledged India's longstanding struggle against terrorism and condemned recent attacks in Moscow and Dagestan, underscoring the shared global challenge of combating terrorism.
"India has suffered from terrorism. We know how horrible it is. Recently, there were terrorist attacks in Moscow and Dagestan... We condemn terrorist attacks," Putin stated during the bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi.
In response, PM Modi expressed solidarity and condemned terrorism unequivocally, describing it as "horrible" and "disgusting," emphasizing India's own enduring battle against terrorism over the past several decades.
"In the last 40–50 years, India has been facing terrorism. We have been facing this for 40 years. I know how horrible and disgusting terrorism is," Modi remarked.
The discussion also encompassed the ongoing Ukraine war, with PM Modi highlighting India's stance favoring peace and dialogue over conflict. He emphasized the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, stressing that wars do not yield solutions but rather perpetuate suffering and displacement.
"For a bright future, war is not a solution. India is in favour of peace. I am hopeful of peace. Ready to cooperate for peace," PM Modi affirmed.
While PM Modi did not directly reference the recent Russian missile attack on a children's hospital in Ukraine, he expressed deep concern over the loss of innocent lives in conflicts worldwide, particularly when children are affected.
"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," PM Modi conveyed.
The bilateral talks between Modi and Putin underscored their shared commitment to combating terrorism and promoting peace amid global conflicts, reflecting India and Russia's longstanding strategic partnership.
