New Delhi: Reiterating New Delhi’s stand that talks are the only way to solve the Ukraine crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India believes there will be no winner in this war.
Prime Minister Modi said that India has called for immediate cessation of hostilities from the start of the Ukraine crisis.
“We believe that there will be no winner in this war and all will suffer losses. Therefore, we are on the side of peace,” he said addressing a joint press event with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, PTI reported.
“Due to the disturbance caused by the Ukraine crisis, oil prices are sky rocketing, there is a shortage of food grains and fertilizers as a result of which every family in the world has been burdened,” he added.
Stating the effect of this will be much more on developing and poor countries, Prime Minister Modi said India is also concerned about the humanitarian consequences of the conflict.
Prime Minister Modi, who was speaking after his meeting with the German Chancellor, said India and Germany share several common values among the democratic nations.
He said the two sides have decided to set up green hydrogen taskforce.
The Prime Minister also said India is committed to quick progress in free trade agreement negotiations with the European Union.
Prime Minister Modi and the German Chancellor discussed key areas of bilateral cooperation under the overall strategic partnership as well as regional and global developments.
The Prime Minister, who arrived in Berlin on Monday morning on the first leg of his three-nation Europe trip that will also take him to Denmark and France, later held delegation-level talks which was also attended by External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
“Discussions continue between PM @narendramodi and Chancellor Scholz in Berlin. Both leaders are reviewing the full range of bilateral ties between India and Germany, including giving an impetus to trade as well as cultural linkages. @Bundeskanzler,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) tweeted.
“PM @narendramodi and @Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz begin bilateral discussions. This is their first engagement since Chancellor Scholz assumed office in December 2021. The momentum of high level exchanges with our Strategic Partner continues,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a tweet.
Prime Minister Modi and the German Chancellor later co-chaired the sixth India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC).
"The Inter-Governmental Consultation between India and Germany illustrate the special nature of this friendship. Prime Minister @narendramodi, Chancellor Scholz and top Ministers from India and Germany meet in Berlin. @Bundeskanzler, the PMO tweeted along with a photograph of the participating ministers from both sides.