Modi pulls rug from under Putin as India orders Russia to back down on threat

The Indian Prime Minister took a thinly-veiled swipe at Vladimir Putin as he called for the “depoliticisation” of the global food supply.

By Alessandra Scotto di Santolo

09:41, Thu, Dec 1, 2022 | UPDATED: 10:25, Thu, Dec 1, 2022

Russia: Putin loses another ally as India calls for peace

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Indian leader Narendra Modi has taken a swipe at Vladimir Putin. The Prime Minister has so far abstained from openly condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But Mr Modi said on Thursday that the world should not be at war.

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Writing in The Telegraph, he said: “Our era need not be one of war. Indeed, it must not be one!”

The Indian leader also vowed to use the G20 presidency to seek to “depoliticise the global supply of food, fertilisers and medical products” to avoid humanitarian catastrophes.

India officially takes up its role as chair of the Group of 20 leading economies for the coming year Thursday and it’s putting climate at the top of the group’s priorities.

The country has made considerable moves toward its climate goals in recent years but is currently one of the world’s top emitters of planet-warming gases.