Modi seeks Ukraine dialogue in phone talk with Putin

Russian president Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a "meaningful" conversation over the phone, and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the bilateral strategic partnership while exchanging views on the conflict in Ukraine.

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The telephone conversation between the two leaders came days ahead of a virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) which is being hosted by India on 4 July. It also came a day after Russia's security council secretary Nikolai Patrushev and national security advisor Ajit Doval discussed bilateral ties and the latest security developments in Russia.

PM Modi and Putin reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, the ministry of external affairs said. Both leaders agreed to remain in touch and continue to make efforts to further strengthen the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries, it said.