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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin during a state visit on Monday.
Modi’s visit to Moscow came shortly after reports of a missile barrage in Ukraine that killed at least 38 people and damaged residential buildings and medical facilities. Zelensky expressed his anger over Modi’s interaction with Putin, calling it a “devastating blow to peace efforts.” President Zelensky said, “It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world’s largest democracy hug the world’s most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day.”

Modi’s visit to Russia was his first since the invasion of Ukraine. According to a readout by Russia and India, the meeting aimed to strengthen bilateral ties across various sectors, including energy and trade, with an ambitious goal of significantly boosting economic cooperation by 2030. Putin greeted Modi warmly, referring to him as a “dear friend,” and discussions between the two leaders covered future collaborations in areas like space exploration and energy development.
Modi criticizes strike on hospital in front of Putin:
While speaking at a televised event, Prime Minister Modi commented on the Ukrainian hospital incident in the presence of Putin. He said, “Whether it is war, conflict or a terrorist attack, any person who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives. But even in that, when innocent children are killed, the heart bleeds and that pain is very terrifying.”
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller reiterated the U.S.’s concerns about India’s ties with Russia. In a statement, Miller said, “We have made quite clear directly with India our concerns about their relationship with Russia.”