India is not neutral: Indian Prime Minister tells Putin his country stands for peace
Photo: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian leader Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting that his country is not a neutral party in Russia's war against Ukraine — it is on the side of peace, India Today reports.
"India is not neutral. India has a side, and that side is of peace," Modi said.
He added that New Delhi supports all efforts aimed at peace and stands "shoulder-to-shoulder" with all such efforts.
Modi also called Russia "a true friend" of India and noted that since the start of the war, he and Putin have been in constant communication.
"From time to time, you, too, as a true friend, have kept us informed about everything. I believe that trust is a great strength... The welfare of nations lies in the path of peace. Together, we will lead the world towards that path," the Indian Prime Minister told Putin.
For his part, the Russian President thanked Modi for his personal attention to the Ukraine issue and claimed that talks with the United States on a possible peace settlement are ongoing.
Russia-India cooperation
India has suffered economic and trade losses due to its cooperation with Russia. It has faced sanctions pressure from the US and the EU.
Due to close ties with Russia, the United States in 2025 raised tariffs on most Indian goods to 50%, including additional duties related to purchases of Russian energy and weapons. This has negatively affected Indian manufacturers targeting the US market.
As a result, in December 2025, India plans to reduce exports of Russian oil to the lowest level in the past three years.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that Indian energy giant Reliance Industries completely stopped importing Russian oil as of November 20.
Instead, Reliance Industries purchased millions of barrels of oil from Middle Eastern countries and the US after American sanctions were imposed on two Russian producers.
Additionally, media reports indicate that India plans to discuss the purchase of Russian fighter jets and missile defense systems during Vladimir Putin's visit.
It is also known that India will lease a Russian nuclear attack submarine for ten years, in a deal worth $2 billion.
