OREANDA-NEWS India stands for dialogue and a peaceful settlement of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and does not take a neutral position at all, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

New Delhi maintains close ties with Moscow, including in the field of arms and energy, did not criticize Russia for sending troops to Ukraine and did not support the UN resolution condemning military actions, the newspaper notes. Some Western countries disapprove of India for this approach, but, according to Modi, such views are not widely spread in the United States.

"I think India's position is well known and understood by the whole world. You can be sure that India's top priority is peace," he said. "Some say we are neutral. But we are not neutral. We are on the side of peace. All countries should respect international law and the sovereignty of other states," Modi added, stressing that conflicts should be resolved through diplomacy and negotiations, not military action.