Editor's Pick: Era of war over, India tells Russia

Russia understands India’s “concerns” over its war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the first meeting between the two leaders on Friday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand, the Uzbekistan capital. Promising to try and end the nine-month-old conflict, Mr. Putin blamed the Ukrainian government for prolonging it. Mr. Modi began his comments by telling Mr. Putin that the “era of war” is over, indicating India’s discomfort with Russia’s attack on Ukraine for the first time in public, although New Delhi has not criticised Russia for its action thus far. “I know that today’s era is not of war and we have spoken to you many times on the phone that democracy, diplomacy and dialogue are such things that touch the world,” the Prime Minister said. “We want all of this to end as soon as possible. We will keep you abreast of what is happening there,” Mr. Putin said in remarks that were televised. “However, unfortunately, the opposing side, the leadership of Ukraine, announced its refusal to continue negotiations and declared that they wanted to achieve their goals by military means, as they say ‘on the battlefield’,” Mr. Putin told Mr. Modi during the conversation. Officials said the two leaders also spoke about the “derivative” issues of the conflict such as the impact on food, fertilizer and energy security. Briefing presspersons, India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said New Delhi’s position was that “hostilities should cease and the path to resolution is through diplomacy and dialogue”. At the SCO meet, Mr. Modi and his Pakistani counterpart, Shahbaz Sharif, sparred over transit trade access. Better regional connectivity is only possible if members grant each other “full transit rights”, Mr. Modi said, referring to the refusal by Pakistan to give India transit trade access by land to Afghanistan and Central Asia. In a speech that was otherwise free from references to India’s regional issues on terrorism with Pakistan and on territorial sovereignty with China, Mr. Modi called for greater cooperation in the Eurasian region and pointed to the “unprecedented” energy and food crisis arising from the twin issues of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine conflict. In his speech, Mr. Sharif, who focused on Afghanistan and the flood situation in Pakistan for most part, responded to Mr. Modi’s remarks, calling for a more “structured” SCO approach to connectivity in the region, adding that “if there is connectivity, transit rights will automatically come”. India has taken over the chair of the SCO, and in his remarks, Chinese President Xi Jinping promised “China’s support” to India in hosting the summit next year. With key leaders attending the SCO meet bringing up the “unprecedented” energy crisis arising out of the pandemic and the Ukraine conflict, Mr. Putin’s remarks on the war becomes an important story. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. Click here The Hindu’s Editorials Eat and learn: On Tamil Nadu’s breakfast scheme in schools The oppressor’s wrong: On jailing ‘Savukku’ Shankar for contempt The Hindu’s Daily Quiz Which State in the country has launched the novel ‘Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme’ for government school children? Karnataka Andhra Pradesh Kerala Tamil Nadu To find out the answer and play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 17 SEPTEMBER 2022 [The Hindu logo] In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [Arrow]( [Open in browser]( [Mail icon]( [More newsletters]( Era of war over, India tells Russia Russia understands India’s “concerns” over its war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in [the first meeting between the two leaders]( on Friday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Samarkand, the Uzbekistan capital. Promising to try and end the nine-month-old conflict, Mr. Putin blamed the Ukrainian government for prolonging it. Mr. Modi began his comments by telling Mr. Putin that the “era of war” is over, indicating India’s discomfort with Russia’s attack on Ukraine for the first time in public, although New Delhi has not criticised Russia for its action thus far. “I know that today’s era is not of war and we have spoken to you many times on the phone that democracy, diplomacy and dialogue are such things that touch the world,” the Prime Minister said. “We want all of this to end as soon as possible. We will keep you abreast of what is happening there,” Mr. Putin said in remarks that were televised. “However, unfortunately, the opposing side, the leadership of Ukraine, announced its refusal to continue negotiations and declared that they wanted to achieve their goals by military means, as they say ‘on the battlefield’,” Mr. Putin told Mr. Modi during the conversation. Officials said the two leaders also spoke about the “derivative” issues of the conflict such as the impact on food, fertilizer and energy security. Briefing presspersons, India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said New Delhi’s position was that “hostilities should cease and the path to resolution is through diplomacy and dialogue”.  At the SCO meet, Mr. Modi and his Pakistani counterpart, Shahbaz Sharif, [sparred over transit trade access](. Better regional connectivity is only possible if members grant each other “full transit rights”, Mr. Modi said, referring to the refusal by Pakistan to give India transit trade access by land to Afghanistan and Central Asia. In a speech that was otherwise free from references to India’s regional issues on terrorism with Pakistan and on territorial sovereignty with China, Mr. Modi called for greater cooperation in the Eurasian region and pointed to the “unprecedented” energy and food crisis arising from the twin issues of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine conflict. In his speech, Mr. Sharif, who focused on Afghanistan and the flood situation in Pakistan for most part, responded to Mr. Modi’s remarks, calling for a more “structured” SCO approach to connectivity in the region, adding that “if there is connectivity, transit rights will automatically come”. India has taken over the chair of the SCO, and in his remarks, Chinese President Xi Jinping promised “China’s support” to India in hosting the summit next year. With key leaders attending the SCO meet bringing up the “unprecedented” energy crisis arising out of the pandemic and the Ukraine conflict, Mr. Putin’s remarks on the war becomes an important story. Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Head over to our newsletter subscription page to sign up for Editor‘s Pick and more. [Click here]( The Hindu’s Editorials [Arrow][Eat and learn: On Tamil Nadu’s breakfast scheme in schools]( [Arrow][The oppressor’s wrong: On jailing ‘Savukku’ Shankar for contempt]( The Hindu’s Daily Quiz Which State in the country has launched the novel ‘Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme’ for government school children? - Karnataka - Andhra Pradesh - Kerala - Tamil Nadu To find out the answer and play the full quiz, [click here](. Today’s Best Reads [[Jaish chief Masood Azhar in Afghanistan, says Bilawal Bhutto] Jaish chief Masood Azhar in Afghanistan, says Bilawal Bhutto]( [[Lakhimpur Kheri rape case | Dalit family mourns daughters, demands death penalty] Lakhimpur Kheri rape case | Dalit family mourns daughters, demands death penalty]( [[Decoding F1’s matrix of success: the interplay between man and machine] Decoding F1’s matrix of success: the interplay between man and machine]( [[Putin bats for visa-free travel with India] Putin bats for visa-free travel with India]( Copyright @ 2022, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. If you are facing any trouble in viewing this newsletter, please [try here]( If you do not wish to receive such emails [go here](