• Modi and Putin held a phone call discussing the ongoing Ukraine war.
• U.S. President Trump imposed tariffs on Indian imports due to oil purchases from Russia.
• Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing the Ukraine conflict and bilateral relations on Friday. This conversation occurred amid new U.S. tariffs imposed on Indian imports, which doubled to 50% due to India's purchasing of Russian oil, a critical revenue source for Moscow's military operations, according to aa, trtglobal, scmp, and channelnewsasia.

During the call, Modi described the conversation with Putin as "very good," thanking him for the updates regarding Ukraine. He emphasized India's consistent stance advocating for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Modi also extended an invitation for Putin to visit India later this year, according to aa, trtglobal, scmp, and channelnewsasia.

The backdrop of the call is significant, as India, one of the largest crude oil importers globally, faces economic pressure due to the new U.S. tariffs. Trump has mandated that India must find alternative oil sources within three weeks or face the harsh economic repercussions of escalating tariffs, which could destabilize domestic fuel prices, as highlighted by aa, trtglobal, scmp, and channelnewsasia.

Moreover, Modi reinforced the historical ties between India and Russia, noting that the two countries have maintained strong cooperation since the Soviet era, particularly in defense procurement. Modi's administration has argued that the increase in Russian oil imports was due to the diversion of traditional sources to Europe as a result of the conflict, according to aa, trtglobal, scmp, and channelnewsasia.