New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that India is willing to contribute towards any peace effort to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, during talks with visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz here.

As the German Chancellor in his remarks said that the world is suffering due to the Russian “aggression” on Ukraine, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s stand on the Ukraine conflict – that India has always called for dialogue and diplomacy to end the war.

In his remarks after their bilateral talks held in Hyderabad House, the PM said: “The effects of the Covid pandemic and the Ukraine conflict have impacted the entire world; it has especially had a negative impact on developing countries.

“We discussed our shared concerns on these aspects; we are in agreement that the resolution of these issues can be only through joint efforts.

“Under India’s G20 presidency we are stressing on this aspect.

“From the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, India has been stressing on dialogue and diplomacy to end this conflict.

“India is ready to contribute towards any peace efforts to end the conflict,” the PM said.

His comments come as the Russia-Ukraine conflict has completed a year and shows no signs of ending, with the West focused on slamming Moscow and helping Kyiv with more weapons.

On Thursday, in the UN General Assembly, India was among 32 countries that abstained on voting on a resolution calling for Russia to leave Ukraine.

India is increasingly being seen as the country which has the global heft to bring a resolution to the dragging Russia-Ukraine conflict, due to its closeness with Moscow as well as Washington.

“We also reiterated the consensus that reform of multi-lateral institutions is necessary to better reflect global realities. This is evident from our active participation within the G4 to reform the UN Security Council,” the PM said.

The PM said the two sides have agreed to increase cooperation under the Triangular Development Cooperation, under which both countries last year agreed to work in third countries.

He said in the last few years their people to people ties have increased, and the Migration and Mobility agreement inked will make it stronger.

“We are adding new and modern aspect to our relations,” the PM said.

“Last year we added the Green and Sustainable Development Partnership (GSDP) to our ties and under it we are increasing our cooperation in climate change and SDGs,” he said, adding that both sides are working on green energy and biofuels among other things.

He said that security and defence cooperation can be a major foundation pillar of their bilateral ties, and they would continue to work together to tap the untapped potential in this sector.

“There is active cooperation between India and Germany in the fight against terrorism and separatism. Both countries also agree that concrete action is necessary to end cross-border terrorism,” he added.

(With UNI inputs)