PRIME Minister Narendra Modi has “very good ideas” on a mutual settlement of the Ukraine conflict and raises the issue at “every meeting”, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said. Putin made the remarks on Thursday at the annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club, according to state-run TASS news agency. “As for Prime Minister Modi’s position on ending wars, I can say that he is one of those world leaders who, despite our very good, even friendly relations, including at the personal level, constantly raises the issue and asks questions about ending the conflict in Ukraine,” Putin said.

 

The Russian leader said Modi “brings up these matters at every meeting we have and takes a keen interest in them”. “He has very good ideas aimed at finding mutually acceptable solutions,” Russian President Vladimir Putin added. Ahead of the BRICS summit in New Delhi last month, Putin and Modi held talks, during which the Russian leader briefed Modi on the overall situation regarding the Ukraine war, which began in February 2022, and ongoing peace initiatives. A few days before that, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia would welcome any peace efforts by India to end the Ukraine conflict, noting that Moscow’s strategy aligns closely with New Delhi’s position for a resolution through dialogue and diplomacy. Putin, at the forum on Wednesday, also expressed appreciation for India’s cultural diversity and unity. “India cannot fail to amaze with its scale and diversity,” Putin said.

 

“Few people know this, but Mr. [Indian Prime Minister Narendra] Modi told me that of the 1.5 billion people, 600 million Indians speak their native language, Hindi, while most speak their own languages, and they all live together- amazing,” he said. Asserting that this cannot fail to inspire admiration, he said, “There is something unique about Indian culture that can certainly serve as an example of how diversity and unity can coexist. It is certainly something to learn from.” 

 

 

PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin on Thursday reiterated Moscow’s long-held position that Russia is not planning to attack European countries but will respond to aggression with “all weapons” in its arsenal. In remarks at a foreign policy forum, Putin accused the West and Europe of escalating tensions by talking about preparing for a war with Moscow in the coming years, conducting military drills in the Baltic Sea, and seizing Russian vessels. His remarks followed Moscow’s warning to NATO that it would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons to defend Kaliningrad should any members of the military alliance try to cut off the Baltic exclave from the rest of Russia. Several Russian embassies in Europe this week issued statements that said Moscow has “information that NATO is preparing (an) air and naval blockade of Kaliningrad and (the) Kaliningrad region.”

 

They accused European leaders of “playing a dangerous game” by saying Russia might attack another country or ramp up a campaign of destabilising attacks with drones and sabotage. Moscow has called the allegations absurd. “There should be no mistake - Russia would be ready to use all its arsenal, including nuclear weapons, to defend its territory if NATO countries try to isolate (the) Kaliningrad region from the rest of the country,” the Russian Embassy in Ireland said in its statement on Tuesday. Asked at the Valdai Club forum Thursday whether Russia was on the cusp of a war with NATO or whether both were trying to intimidate each other, Putin said: “It’s not intimidation, it’s a response to an attempt to intimidate us.” Putin said that “everything is written correctly” in the earlier warning to NATO.

 

“If it comes to a direct attack on the Russian Federation - in this case we mean Kaliningrad, or maybe some other territories - of course, inevitably and immediately the question of Russian Federation using all weapons at the disposal of our country will appear on the agenda,” he said. Putin didn’t specify whether Moscow would use nuclear weapons but said it has arms that “no one else has” and would determine which to use in case of an attack. NATO pushed back against Russian nuclear rhetoric: NATO spokesperson Allison Hart confirmed Wednesday that Russia had sent a written message to the U.S.-led military alliance. “We strongly denounce the threat of force, including any irresponsible nuclear rhetoric,” she said in a statement. Hart insisted NATO is not targeting Kaliningrad and had sent a reply noting that “NATO is a defensive alliance and none of our activities or exercises pose a risk to any part of Russia.” NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Wednesday the bloc’s response to the message was “short and concise.” “Basically what we said is, Hey, listen, we are defensive alliance, and stop the nuclear threat. This is absolutely not called for and not helpful,’” Rutte told Euronews.

 

NATO’s response also urged Russia to stop its “unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine,” now in its fifth year. The Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad sits between NATO members Poland and Lithuania. It is home to Russia’s main Baltic navy base and other military assets, and nuclear-capable Iskander missiles are deployed there. Western military officers have said that key military installations in Kaliningrad would be a likely first target should Russia ever attack any NATO ally. NATO allies have conducted military exercises in the Baltic Sea region in recent months. More are planned in October. It launched Operation Baltic Sentry there last year to protect communication cables and pipelines.

 

On August 18, NATO held an exercise over northern Poland and the Baltic region involving several aircraft, including an EA-37B Compass Call - a sophisticated American plane that can jam communications and radar, the US Air Forces in Europe said. Defense analysts believe the unannounced, large-scale exercise would not have been welcomed by the Kremlin. Rutte urges continued focus on supporting Ukraine ------------------------------------------------------ European leaders and intelligence services have warned that Russia could be ready to strike at another country within a few years, especially if it wins its war on Ukraine. Rutte told Euronews that Russia is trying “to divide us and lose the focus” on defending Ukraine. “We will not,” he said, adding that the best way to respond is to provide Kyiv with more support. “That’s the message. Calm, carry on, keep the support for Ukraine going.