French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (May 4) in Paris, for a work meeting on the situation in Ukraine and bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
The two leaders were set to go over Indian dependence on Russian gas, oil and armament, and to discuss alternative options for the South Asian country.
Modi had already called for a ceasefire in Ukraine and peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow, while in Copenhagen on Tuesday (May 3).
India has so far refrained from explicitly condemning Russia’s invasion while calling for an immediate end to violence. Moscow calls its actions in Ukraine a “special military operation”.
The Indian PM’s visit to the French capital concludes his three-day European tour which led him to meet with German chancellor Olaf Scholz and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen, in addition to Macron.
Other topics Macron and Modi were set to discuss include Afghanistan, the fight against climate change as well as broader bilateral cooperation between France and India, according to the French presidency.
(Production: Manuel Ausloos)