Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, said he had on Friday “a very good” conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which Ukraine and ways of strengthening bilateral ties argued.
The call took place as Modi, leader of the most populous nation in the world and its fifth largest economy, faces some difficult decisions about the purchase of Russian oil in New Delhi.
The president of the United States, Donald Trump, has given Ally India, one of the world’s largest crude oil importers, three weeks to find alternative suppliers or new import tariffs of 25% will double to 50%.
“I had a very good and detailed conversation with my friend president Putin. I thanked him for sharing the latest developments in Ukraine,” Modi published on social networks.
“I hope to receive President Putin in India at the end of this year.”
Buying Russian oil has saved India billions of dollars in import costs, maintaining national fuel prices relatively stable, but that benefit is now at risk due to Trump rates.
Oil purchases are a key source of income for the Moscow War in Ukraine.
Russia is also one of the main weapons suppliers of India, and the warm ties between the two countries date back to the Soviet era.
Putin’s last visit to India was in December 2021.
The Kremlin has criticized the calls to “force countries to cut commercial relations” with Russia as “illegitimate”, not directly mentioning Trump.
Putin also met the National Security Advisor of India, Ajit Doval, in Moscow on Thursday, but no details of his discussions were provided.
The Western Allies of Ukraine have tried to reduce Russia’s export profits since Moscow launched its military assault in February 2022.
However, Russia has been able to redirect energy sales away from Europe to countries, including India and China.
India has argued that it imported oil “from Russia because traditional supplies deviated to Europe after the outbreak of the conflict.”
The Kremlin has said that a summit in Ukraine between Trump and Putin was scheduled for “the next few days”, although an exact time or place has not been announced.
Modi also reiterated during his call with the constant position of Putin India in search of a “peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict,” said a government statement.
The Indian leader, who faces important political and economic ramifications at home and abroad after the Washington tariff, has not talked directly about Trump.
However, he said Thursday, “India will never compromise” the interests of its farmers.
Agriculture uses a large number of people in India and has been a key conflict point in commercial negotiations with Washington.
India had early hopes of a special tariff treatment after Trump said in February that he had found a “special link” with Modi.
The successive US administrations have seen India as a key partner, with related ideas with respect to China.
India and the Chinese neighbor have long been rivals that compete for the strategic influence in southern Asia.
