New Delhi, August 18, 2025 : Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, just days after meeting U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska to discuss a potential permanent end to the war in Ukraine.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the leaders discussed India’s position on the ongoing conflict, with Mr. Modi emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution. Russia was assured that India would offer full support for efforts aimed at ending hostilities. The conversation also touched on various aspects of bilateral cooperation, with both leaders agreeing to remain in close touch.

Following the call, PM Modi shared his appreciation on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
"Thank my friend, President Putin, for his phone call and for sharing insights on his recent meeting with President Trump in Alaska. India has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict and supports all efforts in this regard. I look forward to our continued exchanges in the days to come."

The phone call comes hours before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was not invited to the ‘peace’ summit in Alaska, is scheduled to meet President Trump at the White House. This time, Zelenskyy will be accompanied by European leaders, including Germany’s Friedrich Merz and France’s Emmanuel Macron.

During his Alaska meeting, President Putin described discussions with Trump as “timely” and “very useful,” highlighting the rare opportunity for direct, high-level negotiations. He stated, “We had the opportunity to calmly and in detail reiterate our position. The conversation was frank, substantive, and focused on finding ways to end the war on a fair basis.”

President Trump, meanwhile, called the meeting “very productive” but did not provide details, stating, “We’re not there yet, but we’ve made progress. There’s no deal until there’s a deal.” He also urged Ukraine to agree to Russia’s proposed ceasefire conditions.

This is not the first time PM Modi and President Putin have discussed global developments in recent weeks. A detailed phone conversation between the two leaders took place 10 days ago, which also covered global trade uncertainties stemming from U.S. tariffs.

The U.S. recently announced a 25 percent “penalty” duty on imported Indian goods, criticizing India for continuing to purchase discounted crude oil from Moscow, which the U.S. claims is “funding” Russia’s war in Ukraine. India, however, called the tariffs “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable,” noting that developing countries must balance energy needs for 1.4 billion people while managing costs, unlike wealthier Western nations that can afford to source energy elsewhere.

The latest exchange underscores India’s continued diplomatic role in advocating for peace, while navigating complex relations with both the U.S. and Russia amid the ongoing Ukraine crisis.