August 30, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stunned many with his strong and clear message on India’s stand in the Russia-Ukraine war. During a chat with Japan’s 'The Yomiuri Shimbun,' Modi said, "India has maintained a principled and humanitarian stance on the conflict which is equally appreciated by both President Putin and President Zelenskyy." Imagine that! Both the Russian and Ukrainian presidents personally called Modi to share their views on the war. He repeated India’s consistent call for talks and diplomacy to end the fighting. When asked about India’s role in making peace, PM Modi said, "I have already indicated India's willingness to support meaningful efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution of the conflict. I believe, by virtue of our good relations with both sides, including key stakeholders, we can strengthen efforts dedicated to the restoration of an early and lasting peace in Ukraine." But here’s the spicy twist! The US slapped India with 50% higher tariffs on Indian goods, blaming New Delhi for "funding the war" by buying Russian oil. Not pleased, India hit back hard. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar explained last week, "What we are concerned about is that red lines are primarily in the interest of our farmers and, to some extent, our small producers. ... We are committed to defending the interests of our farmers and small producers. We are determined on that. That's not something we can compromise." Amid these global dramas, PM Modi is on a power-packed trip! He visited Japan for the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit from August 29 to 30. Before leaving, he shared exciting news about his next stop China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. "From Japan, I will travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Tianjin, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. India is an active and constructive member of the SCO. During our Presidency, we have introduced new ideas and initiated collaboration in the fields of innovation, health and cultural exchanges," Modi said. This China visit will be crucial, featuring two major talks — one with China’s Premier Xi Jinping and another with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Looks like Modi is juggling big global chess pieces to secure peace and protect India’s interests!

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Tags: Narendra modi, India, Russia-ukraine conflict, India-japan summit, Us tariffs, Shanghai cooperation organisation,