Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Aug 10: US Senator Lindsey Graham has called on India to use its influence to help President Donald Trump end the ongoing war in Ukraine, shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Graham, in a social media post on Friday, said such an effort would be “consequential” in strengthening India-US relations. “As I have been telling my friends in India, one of the most consequential things they could do to improve India-US relations is to help President Trump end this bloodbath in Ukraine,” he wrote.

The senator noted that India is the second-largest buyer of cheap oil from Russia, which, according to him, “fuels Putin’s war machine.” He hoped that PM Modi had emphasised to Putin the need to end the conflict “justly, honourably and forever” during their recent phone call.

PM Modi described his conversation with Putin as “very good and detailed,” stating that the Russian leader briefed him on the latest developments in Ukraine. The Kremlin confirmed that Putin also shared details of his meeting with US President’s Special Envoy Steven Witkoff.

Modi reiterated India’s “unwavering stance” on resolving the conflict through political and diplomatic means and invited Putin to India later this year for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.

Graham, a supporter of Trump’s move to impose additional tariffs on India over Russian oil imports, remarked, “Making those like India pay a price for their war profiteering is a good place to start.”