India said Tuesday that its nationals who were 鈥渕isled鈥� into joining the Russian army will be discharged, a development that came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first visit to Moscow since the war in Ukraine began.
Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra made the announcement at a briefing in Moscow, following a meeting between Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
New Delhi in March, and the country鈥檚 federal investigation agency at the time said it had broken up a network that lured people to Russia under the pretext of giving them jobs, with at least 35 Indians 小蓝视频 sent.
It said the men were trained in combat roles and deployed to the war in Ukraine against their wishes, with some of them 鈥済rievously injured.鈥�
鈥淭he prime minister strongly raised the issue of early discharge of Indian nationals who have been misled into the service of the Russian army,鈥� Kwatra said.
鈥淭his was taken up strongly by the prime minister -- the Russian side promised early discharge of Indian nationals from the service of the Russian army.鈥�
In September 2022, Putin announced a 鈥減artial mobilization鈥� into the army in a decree that also barred contract soldiers from terminating their service, with some exceptions for age and health.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP鈥檚 earlier story follows below.
met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, seeking to deepen the relationship between the two nuclear powers at a time when and Russia launched in Ukraine that hit a children's hospital.
鈥淥ur relationship is one of a particularly privileged strategic partnership,鈥� Putin told Modi, who made his first trip to Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Kremlin's forces in 2022.
Modi has avoided condemning Russia while emphasizing a peaceful settlement. Their partnership has become more complicated, however, as Russia has moved closer to China amid international isolation of Moscow over Ukraine. Modi did not attend last week鈥檚 of a security organization founded by Moscow and Beijing.
Modi arrived Monday, shortly after Russian missiles struck across Ukraine, severely damaging the largest children鈥檚 hospital in Kyiv and killing at least 42 people nationwide, including some children, officials said.
As Putin greeted Modi at his residence near Moscow, the two leaders shook hands and embraced.
Noting the warm welcome after the attack in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on X: 鈥淚t is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world鈥檚 largest democracy hug the world鈥檚 most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day.鈥�
Modi on Tuesday alluded to the bloodshed while speaking about his meeting with Putin, which included over four hours of talks.
鈥淏e it war, a struggle or a terrorist attack, every person who believes in humanity, when there is loss of life, he is pained," the Indian prime minister said. "When innocent children are killed, when we see innocent children dying, then the heart pains. And that pain is very horrible.鈥�
Modi said the two leaders shared 鈥渙ur opinions on Ukraine with an open heart and in detail. We respectfully listened to each other.鈥�
Modi added that 鈥渁 solution is not possible on the battlefield. Between bombs, guns and bullets, a solution and peace talks cannot be successful. And we have to adopt the path of peace only through talks.鈥�
U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller noted the Modi visit at a briefing in Washington, saying, "We made quite clear directly with India our concerns about their relationship with Russia. And so we would hope India and any other country, when they engage with Russia, would make clear that Russia should respect the U.N. Charter, should respect Ukraine鈥檚 sovereignty and territorial integrity.鈥�
In televised comments, Putin said 鈥渁ll issues鈥� were discussed with Modi,.
Modi鈥檚 trip received extensive coverage at home, including his laying a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier at the Kremlin wall. But coverage of Russia鈥檚 deadly attack Monday in Ukraine was muted.
At the NATO summit in Washington, Western leaders marked the military alliance鈥檚 75th anniversary and sought to reassure Ukraine of their support.
While Western countries have hit Russia with sanctions, Putin pointed out that trade between Russia and India increased by 66% last year, adding that it鈥檚 a key focus of Modi鈥檚 trip.
Modi said that because of Russia's support, 鈥渨e were able to save Indian citizens from difficulties related to requirements of petrol and diesel,鈥� adding that the nations' agreements on energy 鈥渉elped provide market stability to the world indirectly.鈥�
Russian state media reported that they would also discuss Moscow helping India build more nuclear power plants. The two countries already are collaborating on the Kudankulam nuclear power project in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Russia had , and New Delhi鈥檚 importance as a key trading partner with Moscow has grown since the war in Ukraine.
China and India are key buyers of Russian oil following sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies that shut most Western markets off to Russian exports. India now gets more than 40% of its oil imports from Russia, according to analysts.
Modi last traveled to Russia in 2019, when he attended a forum in the far eastern port of Vladivostok and met with Putin. They also saw each other in September 2022 in Uzbekistan, at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization bloc.
along the disputed China-India border dramatically altered the already touchy relationship between Beijing and New Delhi as rival troops fought with rocks, clubs and fists. At least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed. Tensions have persisted 鈥� and have seeped into how India views Russia.
But Modi is expected to continue close relations with Russia, which is also a major defense supplier for India.
With Moscow鈥檚 arms industries mostly serving the Russian military in Ukraine, India has been diversifying its defense procurements, buying more from the U.S., Israel, France and Italy.
Trade development also is important, particularly intentions to develop a maritime corridor between India鈥檚 major port of Chennai and Vladivostok, the gateway to Russia鈥檚 Far East.
India-Russia trade has seen a sharp increase, touching close to $65 billion in the 2023-24 financial year, due to strong energy cooperation, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said Friday. Russian imports touched $60 billion and exports from India $4 billion in the 2023-24 financial year. India鈥檚 financial year runs from April to March.
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Burrows reported from London and Pathi from New Delhi.
Emma Burrows And Krutika Pathi, The Associated Press
