India should take advantage of good relations with Russia: America

America was keenly watching PM Modi's visit to Russia. America even said that if any country meets Russia, it will have to respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine. After all this, now another reaction from America has come to the fore. The White House has said in a statement on Tuesday that India's relations with Russia are in a good state, which India should take advantage of. America has said that if India wants, it can ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine. This statement has come when PM Modi, during his meeting with Putin, emphasized that the solution to the Ukraine war lies in dialogue, not on the battlefield.
Addressing a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karin Jean-Pierre called India a strategic partner of the US with whom they have a frank dialogue. When asked about PM Modi's meeting with Putin, Jean-Pierre said, “India is a strategic partner with whom we have a full and frank dialogue, including on their relationship with Russia and we have talked about this before. So we think it is important that all countries, including India, support the efforts to establish peace in the case of Ukraine.” She further said that if India wants, it can also stop the war in Ukraine. She said, “We also believe that India's good relations with Russia give it the ability to request President Putin to end the war that was started without reason in Ukraine. It is up to President Putin to end it. President Putin started the war, and he can end the war.”
PM had raised the issue of killing of children during the war
The White House has given this statement after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of killing of children during war during his bilateral talks with President Putin. The Prime Minister has said that every person who believes in humanity is sad when lives are lost. This statement comes after the recent missile attack on a children's hospital in Kiev, in which 37 children were killed. During the meeting, PM Modi said, “Whether it is war, conflict, terrorist attack – every person who believes in humanity is sad when lives are lost. But when innocent children are killed, when we see innocent children dying, it is heartbreaking. This pain is huge.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that no solution is found on the battlefield and added that peace cannot be negotiated amidst bombs, guns and bullets.
Zelensky called PM's visit a setback to peace efforts
This was PM Modi's first visit to Russia since the war between Moscow and Kiev began in 2022. Earlier on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed disappointment over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia and termed it a setback to peace efforts. PM Modi was on a two-day official visit to Russia on July 8-9. During his visit, he held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. PM Modi also addressed the Indian community in Moscow.