Starmer meets with Indian Prime Minister Modi to discuss war in Ukraine

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai, India. Modi described himself as a friend of russian leader vladimir putin and expressed his desire for the russian-Ukrainian war to end through "dialogue and diplomacy."

The BBC reports this.

Starmer is in Mumbai on a two-day trade mission accompanied by the largest-ever delegation of more than 100 business leaders, entrepreneurs, university vice-chancellors and cultural figures.

Modi called the visit "historic" as the two sides met to discuss ways to expand business and trade ties after India and Britain signed a landmark trade deal in July.

Among other issues discussed by the two prime ministers was the war in Ukraine. India continues to buy russian fossil fuels, which help finance vladimir putin's war effort.

"The prime minister and I also discussed the need for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, the need for stability and security in the Indo-Pacific, and the need to co-operate in critical areas like climate and energy, including breaking away from dependence on fossil fuels," Starmer said.

Modi called himself a friend of putin, but expressed his desire to see the war in Ukraine end through "dialogue and diplomacy."

Among other things, Starmer expressed his wish that India, as a "global player," take "its rightful place" in the UN Security Council, a long-standing goal of the nation.

The British prime minister's visit comes amid tense relations between New Delhi and Washington over President Donald Trump's decision to impose 50% tariffs on India, including a 25% penalty on russian oil purchases.

India and the United States have been negotiating a trade deal for several months now, but have yet to reach a significant breakthrough.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on the country's residents to refuse to use foreign goods and services amid deteriorating trade relations with the United States.

Later, Indian authorities have asked the United States to allow oil purchases from Iran or Venezuela to reduce imports of black gold from the aggressor country of russia.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, the Ukrainian military captured an Indian citizen who served in the russian army. the 22-year-old Majoti said he agreed to go to war to avoid a seven-year prison sentence in russia.