After meeting Putin, Indian Prime Minister Modi stressed the need for diplomatic solutions in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. “Problems cannot be solved on the battlefield,” Modi said in Vienna, where he met with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer after his visit to Moscow. “Loss of innocent lives is unacceptable, wherever it happens,” Modi said after his talks with the Austrian head of government.
His visits to Moscow and Vienna come amid a massive Russian missile strike on Ukraine. On Monday, a children's hospital in Kiev was badly damaged. At least 27 people were killed in the capital, according to the Ukrainian military administration.
In Moscow, Modi and Putin stressed the close ties between India and Russia. According to a joint statement, the two countries want to continue cooperating in the field of military technology.
India recently took part in an international summit on Ukraine in Switzerland, but was represented by only one senior official. “Today we are talking about a stronger commitment,” said Austrian Chancellor Nehammer, who committed to greater involvement of the southern powers in peace efforts.
Neutral Austria is available as a venue for future Ukrainian diplomacy, Nehammer said. With Russian oil prices cheap due to Western sanctions, India has become one of the biggest buyers.
The country also buys military equipment from Russia. In the Ukraine war, the government in New Delhi has repeatedly called for all parties to engage in general dialogue.
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