There will not be any winners in this Russia-ukraine war: Indian PM Modi
Moscow’s attack threatens THE RULE-BASED Global order: Scholz; Germany and India sign $10.5b GREEN Development DEAL
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for dialogue to end the war in Ukraine at the start of a European tour on Monday but steered clear of condemning Russia over the military operation.
India, which imports much of its military hardware from Russia, has long walked a diplomatic tightrope between the West and Moscow, and has called only for an immediate end to hostilities.
“We have insisted on a ceasefire and called for talks as the only way to resolve dispute since the start of the Ukraine crisis,” Modi told reporters after talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.
“We believe that there won’t be any winners in this war and everyone will lose, which is why we are in favour of peace,” he said.
Besides the humanitarian impact on Ukrainians, pressure on oil prices and global food supplies is also “putting a burden on every family in the world”, he said.
Germany’s Scholz stressed that the war in Ukraine threatened the “rule-based global order”.
“Russia has jeopardised the fundamental principles of international law with its attack on Ukraine,” he said. “The war and the brutal assault on civilians in Ukraine show the unchecked manner in which Russia is violating the principles of the UN Charter,” Scholz added, repeating his call for President Vladimir Putin to withdraw his troops.
Scholz said he and Modi agreed that the “inviolability of borders” and “sovereignty of nations” must not be called into question. “We thoroughly discussed that we want to achieve a better future — not by fighting wars against each other but by making economic development possible together,” he said.
Germany and India signed a series of bilateral agreements Monday focused on sustainable development that will see the South Asian nation receive 10 billion euros ($10.5 billion) in aid by 2030 to boost the use of clean energy. The agreements covered issues ranging from technical assistance to increase the use of renewable energy and hydrogen, to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting biodiversity and improving agricultural land use. Other areas of cooperation center on migration, nuclear research and the establishment of secure communications channels between the two governments.
The two governments later signed a joint declaration expressing “strong support” for upcoming talks between the European Union and India on a free trade agreement. Scholz also confirmed he had invited Modi as a special guest to a Group of Seven (G7) leaders’ summit next month, seen as part of an effort to forge a broader alliance against Russia.
Modi was holding talks in Berlin before heading to Copenhagen to join the prime ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway at a twoday India-nordic Summit from May 3. — afp. ap
As democratic countries, both India and Germany share several common values. Based on these values, our bilateral relations have made significant progress over the last few years.”
Narendra Modi
Indian Prime Minister
We agreed that the inviolability of borders... must not be called into question. We want to achieve a better future — not by fighting wars... but by making economic development possible together.”
Olaf Scholz
German Chancellor