India: Modi urges for 'dialogue and diplomacy' in Ukraine over call with Putin

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone on Friday and discussed the state of global energy and food markets, Modi's office said in a statement, as India keeps buying Russian crude oil.

"They exchanged ideas on how bilateral trade in agricultural goods, fertilisers and pharma products could be encouraged further," the statement said. "The leaders also discussed global issues, including the state of the international energy and food markets."

The statement said Modi urged Putin to go for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the Ukraine crisis. 

Friday's telephone call was the two leader's fourth conversation since the start of Russia's invasion on February 24. 

India, so far, has not condemned Moscow's aggression, but it has criticised the mass slaughter of civilians in the Ukrainian town Bucha and called for an international investigation into the incident. 

[Reuters]