Modi, Putin discuss Alaska meeting amid India-Russia energy ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday to hear Putin’s assessment of his recent talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska, in a sign that New Delhi continues to cultivate a close, if complicated, partnership with Moscow even as Washington increases pressure over energy ties with Russia. Modi thanked Putin for the call, reiterated India’s long-standing push for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict, and said he looked forward to further exchanges in the days ahead. The dialogue underscores the depth of India’s strategic relationship with Russia at a time of heightened U.S. scrutiny over energy purchases from Moscow.

In the exchange, Putin is reported to have shared his take on the Alaska meeting with Trump, while Modi used the moment to reaffirm New Delhi’s position on Ukraine and to emphasize the importance of maintaining steady lines of communication with Moscow. Modi’s social-media post quoted him saying, “Thank my friend, President Putin, for his phone call and for sharing insights on his recent meeting with President Trump in Alaska,” and he added that India has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the...