European leaders urge India to play a role in achieving peace in Ukraine

New Delhi: Close on the heels of the PM's meetings with the presidents of Russia and China in Tianjin, Europe has stepped up its engagements with India, with the German foreign minister and the EU leadership urging New Delhi to help bring about peace in Ukraine.

Amid the US President's advice to Europe to play a decisive role in ending the war, the European leaders have sought to take advantage of the chemistry between PM Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, pressing New Delhi to move Moscow on an early peace deal.

From India's viewpoint, engagement with Germany and the EU leadership is vital in finalising a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) amid heavy US tariffs.

On Friday, MEA spokesperson Randheer Jaiswal said, "As far as the conflict in Ukraine is concerned, we welcome all the recent efforts towards establishing peace in Ukraine. We hope that all parties will proceed ahead constructively. India supports an early end of the conflict and the establishment of an enduring peace."