New Delhi: Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Tuesday hoped visiting Indian Prime Minister Modi would influence Russia to end the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Condemning Russia's "unlawful" invasion of Ukraine, Mette Frederiksen expressed her expectations in most clear terms unlike any European leader in the last two months.
On his part, PM Modi said they discussed Ukraine crisis, calling for a ceasefire, solving conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
PM Modi was reiterating India's stand which it had previously made clear in UN and later during his interaction with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz the other day.
The Prime Ministers of both India and Denmark will meet again Wednesday for the India-Nordic summit which will include Sweden, Finland, Norway and Iceland. This will be the second such summit after the first in 2018, according to The Indian Express.
Mette Frederiksen said both nations shared many values and believe in a rule-based international system. She was all for building stronger bridge between close partners.
She also said they had discussed crimes committed against civilians and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
The civilian killings in Bucha reportedly figured in their talks. She said both leaders condemned these killings, stressing for independent probe into it.
Modi, however, without naming Russia in his statement said they discussed India-EU ties, Indo-Pacific and Ukraine alongside other regional and global issues, and appealed for ceasefire.
The two leaders reviewed the progress in relationship in areas including renewable energy, health, shipping, and water since Frederiksen's visit to India in October 2021.
The joint statement expressed satisfaction in collaboration in the aforementioned fields.
Modi said they hoped that they would be able to conclude the negotiations on the India-EU free trade agreement soon, Indian Express reported.
Meanwhile, two leaders signed nine pacts including cooperation on skill development, migration among others.