Ukraine in focus as India, UK push business ties

India and the United Kingdom have called for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine-Russia conflict with more dialogue, and expect closer business and defense trade cooperation after a visit by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he and Johnson discussed the situation in Ukraine during a meeting in New Delhi and underscored the importance of diplomacy and dialogue.

"We're on the side of peace," Modi was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India.

At the end of Johnson's two-day visit, the two prime ministers set a target for concluding the "majority of talks on a comprehensive and balanced free trade agreement by the end of October", according to a joint statement issued after their talks on April 22.

India welcomed Britain's commitment to investing about $1 billion in climate-related projects between this year and 2026.

Gulshan Sachdeva, professor of European studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, said Britain's commitment will strengthen bilateral relations, which could potentially reduce India's share of Russian imports in the future.

Long-term strategy

However, it has to be the United Kingdom's long-term strategy to get India closer to the West and further away from Russia.

At a news briefing on Friday, Johnson said collaboration between the two countries on energy security, including solar and offshore wind power, will help reduce dependence on imported hydrocarbons.

Johnson arrived in India on Thursday against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and domestic heat on him for breaking pandemic control rules during lockdowns he initiated. India has called for a cease-fire in Ukraine, but has abstained from resolutions condemning Russia despite constant pressure from the United States and its Western allies.

Official estimates project that the upcoming free trade deal will double bilateral trade volume by 2030, which the Indian business community widely welcomes.

India has long-standing defense ties to Russia, and up to 60 percent of India's current military equipment was procured from Russia. India is a large consumer of oil, over which 80 percent is imported. Despite warnings from the US last month, state-run Indian Oil Corporation bought 3 million barrels of discounted Russian crude oil.

Sachdeva said India is keen to send a message to the West that India is not to be forced into changing its stand toward Russia, which explains UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss' frustration when she asked India to reduce its strategic dependence on Russia during a visit last month.

Johnson avoided such embarrassment, describing Modi as his khas dost, or special friend, and acknowledging India's "historic relationship "with Russia going back to the 1990s.

"They're not going to change that," Johnson was quoted by The Economic Times as saying. "What Indians want is peace."

In a recent statement, the British High Commission said the UK will issue an open general export license to India, which will streamline licensing rules for exporting defense equipment to India.

Ahead of the prime ministers' meeting, the UK said it will offer India the best of British know-how on building battle-winning aircraft and support the country's goals of acquiring new technology.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.