Modi & Macron discuss ‘cascading effect’, each’s position

Hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Delhi said there was a broad understanding of each other’s position on the Ukraine issue, that the two leaders spoke extensively on the “cascading effect” of the conflict, and agreed to coordinate “very closely” for a “constructive role” in the evolving situation.

The tone of India’s statement was in sharp contrast to Delhi’s sharp response to remarks from other European leaders and ministers who, in recent weeks, had conveyed concerns over India not condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

Macron and Modi are among a handful of world leaders who have maintained open communication channels with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The two leaders met in Paris late Wednesday and a readout of their meeting came early Thursday. Modi, who was on a trip to Germany and Denmark, made a stopover in Paris to meet Macron before heading home.

In a Twitter post, Macron said “we discussed the different ongoing international crises as well as our strategic partnership” and “we also talked about food security issues and the FARM initiative in which India will play a key role” — FARM is a reference to the Food and Agriculture Resilience Mission. Modi said “my visit to France was brief but a very fruitful one” and that Macron and he “got the opportunity to discuss various subjects”. He also thanked Macron and the French government for “the warm hospitality”.