PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asserted that solutions to problems can’t be found on the battlefield, and emphasised that dialogue and diplomacy is the only way to resolve global conflicts, particularly the ongoing war in Ukraine. Modi said this during a joint press statement after holding “fruitful discussion” with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer during which they discussed in detail the ongoing disputes in the world, including the Ukraine conflict and situation in West Asia, reaffirming that “this is not the time for war”. Modi said both India and Austria strongly condemn terrorism and agree that it is not acceptable in any form.

 

“This cannot be justified in any way,” he said. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer offered his country as a site for dialogue as a neutral country and said, India is an influential and creditworthy country whose role is more than important when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine peace process, Modi, who arrived here from Moscow after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday night on a two-day visit- the first by an IndianPrimeMinisterinover 40 years, also said India and Austria identified new possibilities to further strengthen mutual cooperation and prepared a blueprint for cooperation for the coming decade.

 

“Today, Chancellor Nehammer and I had a very fruitful discussion. We have identified new possibilities to further strengthen our mutualcooperation.Wehave decided to give a strategic directiontoourrelationship. A blueprint for cooperation has been prepared for the coming decade,” Modi said in a joint media appearance with Chancellor Nehammer after their talks. “Chancellor Nehammer and I have spoken at length about ongoing conflicts around the world, be it the conflictinUkraineorthe situation in West Asia. I have saidbeforethatthisisnotthe timeforwar,”theprimeminister said. Meanwhile, India and Austria on Wednesday supported any collective effort to facilitate a “peaceful resolution” consistent with internationallawandtheUN Charter to the Ukraine conflict.