During the 16th India-EU Summit held on Tuesday, which marked the signing of the landmark India–European Union Free Trade Agreement, dubbed the “mother of all deals” , the EU said it had urged India to put pressure on Russia to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.
What the EU said
European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas said the European Union wants the Russia–Ukraine war to end, stressing that the prolonged conflict is harming not only Europe but also countries in the Global South.
Accusing Moscow of “playing games” and merely “pretending to negotiate,” Kallas said lasting peace cannot be built on such tactics.
She said the EU had asked its Indian counterparts to raise the issue with Russia and encourage Moscow to move towards peace, noting that the war has disrupted global trade, including supplies of wheat and other essential commodities.
How India responded
Responding to the remarks, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said India is interested in seeing the “earliest possible cessation” of a conflict that has continued for nearly four years.
He highlighted India’s long-standing ties with Russia, calling them rooted in historical context, while reiterating New Delhi’s consistent position in favour of a negotiated solution.
Misri added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has remained in close contact with leaders of both Russia and Ukraine, underlining India’s continued push for dialogue and diplomacy.
The Russia-Ukraine war started in February 2022 and has been ongoing for four years now.
