US Urges India to Leverage Russia Ties for Ukraine Peace Effort

The US implores India to use its close relationship with Russia to urge President Vladimir Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine. The State Department's Matthew Miller highlights India's strategic role while PM Modi emphasizes peace during his recent visit to Moscow.

Amid the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kyiv, the United States has urged India to leverage its longstanding relationship with Russia and persuade President Vladimir Putin to cease hostilities in Ukraine. The US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, highlighted the strong ties between Delhi and Moscow during a press briefing on Monday.

"India has a longstanding relationship with Russia. We, on behalf of the United States, have encouraged India to use this unique position to push for an end to President Putin's illegal war and to seek a just and lasting peace," Miller stated. He added that India should remind Putin to respect the UN Charter and Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. These comments were made in response to a query about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Russia.

During Modi's visit to Moscow, he reiterated the importance of peace and stated that solutions cannot be achieved on the battlefield. Modi's trip marked his first visit to Russia since the conflict began in 2022. The visit also witnessed a focus on economic ties, with Modi and Putin discussing mutual trade goals and the liberalization of bilateral trade.