Washington/New Delhi, Feb 14 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India is for peace with regard to the Ukraine conflict and announced his wholehearted support for President Donald Trump’s initiative to stop the war.
In his remarks to journalists at the White House, PM Modi said: “Regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine I am happy that President Trump has taken the initiative for peace, and spoken with President Putin and President Zelenskyy.
“The world is thinking that India is neutral. India is not neutral, India has its own stand, and it is for peace, and for dialogue and diplomacy. I had said in front of President Putin that this is not the time for war. And it is my conviction that resolutions do not come in the battlefield, it comes only by discussions sitting across the table.
“We are for every effort taken for peace, and I give my wholehearted support for the initiative taken by President Trump for peace. “
Taking questions later at a press conference in the White House, PM Modi said that he has been in continuous close touch with both Russia and Ukraine over ending the conflict.
“I personally visited both nations…. I fully endorse and support President Trump in his endeavour for peace, and want that it should happen quickly so that the path to peace in the world should open up.”
President Trump, who had a one and a half hour talk with President Putin over ending the war, said that US officials will be meeting with both the sides in Munich and in Saudi Arabia in an effort to find an end to the war that began in February 2022.
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US President Donald Trump offered to mediate between India and China to end the “skirmishes on the border which are quite vicious”.
Speaking in the White House, in answer to a question, the US President said on China: “I think we are going to have a very good relationship with China. I got along well with President Xi till Covid… I think China is a very important player and can help us get this war over with Ukraine and Russia.
“I look at India, I do see the skirmishes on the border which are quite vicious and I guess they continue to go on. If I could help, I’d love to help because it’s got to be stopped. It’s been going on for a long time. And it’s quite violent.
“But I would hope that China and India, and Russia and the US and all of us can get along. It’s very important…”
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US President Donald Trump, asked who in his opinion is the tougher negotiator, himself of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said PM Modi is definitely the tougher one.
“PM Modi is a much tougher negotiator than me, and he is a much better negotiator than me, and it is not even a contest,” President Trump said.
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US President Donald Trump, asked if he would intervene in the issue of Bangladesh where minorities are being killed under the Interim government led by Mohammed Younus, said he would leave Bangladesh to PM Modi.
“I will leave Bangladesh to the PM,” the US President said, answering a question in the White House presser after talks with PM Modi.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asked about the issue of illegal migration of Indians and whether he had taken it up with President Donald Trump following the deportation of undocumented Indians from the US, said the issue does not just concern India but is a global issue.
“We are of the view that people who illegally enter other countries, those people do not have any legal basis to live there.
“With regard to India and the US we have always said that the Indians who are verified to be Indian nationals, if they are found to be living illegally, we are ready to accept them back.
“But the issue does not stop there. These are people from ordinary families, and are shown big dreams and are led astray and brought here.
“And that is why we should wage war on the whole ecosystem of human trafficking and uproot it totally. And I have faith that President Trump will support India in ending this entire ecosystem,” the PM said.
