PARIS: India and France on Wednesday called for “an immediate cessation ofhostilities” in Ukraine, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi again stoppingshort of condemning Russia’s invasion of its neighbour.
India, which imports much of its military hardware from Russia, has longwalked a diplomatic tightrope between the West and Moscow — notablyrefusing to denounce the latter or vote against it at the United Nationsover its actions in Ukraine.
“France and India expressed their deep concern over the humanitarian crisisand the ongoing conflict in Ukraine,” Modi and French President EmmanuelMacron said in a joint statement after they met in Paris for talks and aworking dinner.
“Both countries unequivocally condemned the fact that civilians have beenkilled in Ukraine, and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities inorder for the two sides to come together to promote dialogue and diplomacy,and to put an immediate end to the suffering of the people.”
However, only France condemned “Russian forces’ illegal and unjustifiedaggression against Ukraine”.
The two countries said they would “respond in a coordinated andmultilateral way” to the risk the conflict would intensify a global foodcrisis, with Ukraine one of the world’s main wheat producers.
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Ahead of the meeting, Macron’s office had said he would “emphasise theconsequences of the war for the international order well beyond theEuropean Union, including in Asia” to Modi.
France wants to “help the Indians diversify their supply” away from Russianarms and energy, officials added.
The aim, they said, “is not to leave the Indians with no way out, but tooffer solutions”.
Modi, who is on a European tour, told reporters after meeting with GermanChancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Monday that “there won’t be any winnersin this war and everyone will lose”.
