In Moscow, Modi expressed his closeness to Putin despite disputes over Ukraine

2024-07-10 07:36:25

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Kremlin in Moscow on July 9, 2024. ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO / AP

The shadow of the war in Ukraine will have hung over Narendra Modi’s entire visit to Russia on July 8 and 9. The Prime Minister of India arrived in Moscow on Monday to strengthen ties with Russia, a few hours after Russian airstrikes on more than 40 Ukrainians died. The country’s largest children’s hospital was attacked, sparking international outrage. The difference between the images is amazing. On one side, injured children were pulled out of the wreckage. On the other, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ride on a golf cart and bond with each other.

The Indian leader, a historic ally of Moscow and a partner of the West, has been leading a delicate balancing act since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, made even more dangerous by the Russian attacks which fell on Kyiv on Monday. New Delhi, which has always defended “multi-aligned” diplomacy, has always been careful not to publicly condemn Russia’s aggression, while calling for peace and dialogue. After the engagements, Narendra Modi also spoke for himself “Symbolic” Vladimir Poutine, Mardi: “War cannot solve problems. » “Solutions and peace talks cannot succeed amid bombs, guns and bullets”launched Hindu nationalist, appeal for “one way to peace through communication”.

India had until then been very cautious in its relationship with the Kremlin. In order not to anger his Western partners, Narendra Modi avoided going to Russia. The Prime Minister of India has met Vladimir Putin once, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in 2022, where he previously told him that “Now is not the time for war”. “Everyone understands the economic logic that led India to maintain good relations with Russia”, calculates Nicolas Blarel, professor of international relations at the University of Leiden, in the Netherlands. India depends on Moscow for the maintenance of its military equipment, 60% of which is of Russian and Soviet origin. The South Asian giant, which depends more than 80% of its supplies on imports, has been buying large quantities of cheap Russian oil since the start of the war. Indian refiners also sell the body in Europe after having changed it.

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