NEW DELHI: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi by her side, Danish premier Mette Frederiksen on Tuesday appealed to India to use its close ties with Russia to stop the war in Ukraine.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Copenhagen, Prime Minister Frederiksen strongly condemned “Russia’s unlawful and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine”.
“My message is clear (Russian President Vladimir) Putin has got to stop the war and end the killings. I, of course, hope India will influence Russia in this discussion,” she urged PM Modi.
She revealed that the Russia-Ukraine war came up for discussions during the bilateral talks between the two countries.
“As close partners, we of course discussed the war in Ukraine and the consequences of the horrible crime committed against civilians and the serious humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. The reports of killing civilians in Bucha are deeply shocking. We have condemned the killing and stressed a need for independent investigation,” PM Frederiksen stated.
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Responding to her appeal, Prime Minister Modi said, “We have called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the crisis.”
However, he didn’t mention the discussion on Bucha killings nor did he condemn the Russian attack on Kyiv. “We discussed India-EU relations and several regional & global issues including Ukraine,” the Indian prime minister said.
PM Modi emphasized the need to ensure free, open, inclusive and ruled-based Indo-Pacific region.
Since Russia invaded the former Soviet nation in February end, India has not condemned the attack despite pressure from the United States and European countries. It has abstained from votes in the United Nations against the Russian action.
On his maiden visit to Denmark, PM Modi and PM Frederiksen pushed partnership in green energy, clean water and efforts to counter the next global health crisis.
“Hopefully two of us can lead by example by showing the green growth and green transition can go hand in hand. I am convinced that India and Denmark have huge untapped potential for trade and investments,” the Danish PM stated.
During the visit, the two countries inked a series of pacts ranging from migration and mobility to energy policy on Tuesday.
The two leaders reaffirmed that robust bilateral investments and trade flows through diversified, resilient, transparent, open, secure and predictable global supply chains would ensure economic security and prosperity of their peoples, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
PM Modi invited Danish companies to invest in India, calling the Indian market “very lucrative”.