In Phone Call With UK PM Johnson, PM Modi Calls For Respect To Ukraine’s Sovereignty

| Updated: 23 March, 2022 12:43 am IST
UK PM Boris Johnson with PM Narendra Modi (file photo)

 

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a “detailed” telephonic conversation with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the situation in Ukraine, and emphasized India’s belief in “respect for international law and the territorial integrity and sovereignty” of all states.

“Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s consistent appeal for cessation of hostilities and a return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy,” said the Prime Minister’s Office.

“The two leaders had a detailed discussion on the situation in Ukraine. He emphasized India’s belief in respect for international law and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states, as the basis of the contemporary world order,” it said.

The UK government said that the two leaders agreed that Russia should adhere to the United Nations Charter. During the phone call, Prime Minister Johnson told PM Modi that “the actions of Putin’s regime were deeply disturbing and disastrous for the world”.

“India and UK should be more responsible to bring stability in the besieged Ukraine,” the UK government said.

The two leaders also discussed issues of bilateral interests and agreed on the potential of further deepening cooperation in various areas including trade, technology, investments, defence & security, and people-to-people relations, as per the government of India.

PM Modi invited PM Johnson to visit India at his convenience.

“Prime Minister Modi expressed his satisfaction at the positive momentum in the ongoing negotiations on the bilateral Free Trade Agreement. He also appreciated the progress in implementing the ‘India-UK Roadmap 2030’ adopted during the Virtual Summit between both leaders last year,” the PMO stated.

India and the UK are contemplating signing Free Trade Agreement which has the prospect to take the bilateral trade worth $100 billion by 2030.

“An India-UK Free Trade Agreement would be a substantial opportunity for both of our economies and a significant moment in the India-UK bilateral relationship,” the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in January.

Russia launched a military attack on the former Soviet state of Ukraine on February 24. India has not supported the invasion by its trusted defence partner, but New Delhi abstained from votes in the United Nations against Russia. In phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Modi urged both the leaders to resolve the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.

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