Prime Minister Modi said he had a “good conversation” by phone with the Finnish president.
“Finland is a precious partner in the EU. We have discussed ways to deepen cooperation in key sectors such as trade, technology and sustainability. Also exchanged by prospects for current efforts for a peaceful conflict resolution in Ukraine,” published the Prime Minister on X.
Stubb echoes the feeling, stressing that the two parties agreed on the urgent need of a “just and lasting solution” in war. “The end of the war is in all our interests, it is a shared objective. India plays an important role. It is understood and respected in the South, the West and the East. We have also agreed to deepen the relations between India and the EU. Our cooperation is developing and continues,” he wrote.
The telephone exchange comes at a time when India extends its economic imprint with European partners.
The Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, announced earlier than the free trade agreement between India and the European Free Trade Association (ARE) – including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland – will come into force from October 1. Five years. The pact should create a million direct jobs in India, while also opening Indian markets on several European goods such as Swiss watches, chocolates and diamonds cut and polished at reduced or zero prices.
Meanwhile, the conversation also occurs at a time when kyiv stressed the importance of the role of India in the end of the prolonged conflict with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Modi for his greetings at Ukraine’s independence day on Tuesday, stressing that “we are counting on the contribution of India” to obtain peace.
He said Ukraine appreciates New Delhi’s commitment to peace and dialogue, noting that each decision strengthening diplomacy contributes to world security, from Europe to Indo-Pacific.
Prime Minister Modi, in a letter to Zelenskyy dated August 24, reiterated that India has “always held on the side of peace” and remains determined to support “sincere efforts in search of an early, constant and peaceful resolution of the conflict by dialogue and diplomacy”.
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