Modi, Trump discuss ties, Ukraine in birthday call

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump discussed bilateral relations and efforts to end the war in Ukraine during a phone call on Tuesday, their first conversation in nearly three months after the American leader's tariff policies impacted the relationship.

- Rezaul H Laskar

The phone call between the two leaders came close on the heels of a meeting of the main trade negotiators of India and the US in New Delhi, with both sides describing the discussions as positive.

“Thank you, my friend, President Trump, for your phone call and warm greetings on my 75th birthday,” Modi said on social media.

“Like you, I am also fully committed to taking the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights. We support your initiatives towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict,” he said without giving details.

Trump added on social media a short while later that he had a “wonderful phone call with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi”.

He said, “I wished him a very Happy Birthday! He is doing a tremendous job. Narendra: Thank you for your support on ending the War between Russia and Ukraine!”

The two leaders had last spoken on phone on June 17 after they were unable to meet on the margins of the G7 Summit in Canada. That conversation was followed weeks later by a downturn in bilateral relations after Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods, including a 25% punitive levy over Russian energy purchases.