Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted India's struggle with terrorism and noted that Moscow and Dagestan have also faced similar threats.
"India has experienced the horrors of terrorism. We know how dreadful it is. Recently, there have been terrorist attacks in Moscow and Dagestan... We strongly condemn these acts of terrorism," Putin stated during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The previous week saw terrorist attacks in Derbent and Makhachkala, two major cities in Russia's Dagestan, resulting in 21 fatalities and 46 injuries. These attacks followed an incident months earlier, where Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K) terrorists opened fire at Crocus City Hall in Moscow, killing nearly 140 people.
PM Modi, in his opening remarks, denounced the recent attacks in Russia, describing terrorism as "horrible" and "disgusting."
"India has been battling terrorism for the past 40-50 years. We understand the terrible and revolting nature of terrorism," he said.
The ongoing Ukraine conflict, which has resulted in over 80,000 troop casualties on both sides and displaced numerous civilians, was also addressed by PM Modi. He emphasized that the battlefield is not the place for a resolution and advocated for peace through dialogue.
"For a brighter future, war is not the answer. India supports peace. I am hopeful for peace and willing to cooperate for its achievement," PM Modi asserted.
While PM Modi did not specifically reference the recent Russian missile attack on a children's hospital in Ukraine, he expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives.
"Whether it is war, conflicts, or terrorist attacks, everyone who values humanity feels deep pain when lives are lost. But when innocent children are killed, when we see them dying, it is truly heart-wrenching. The pain is overwhelming," PM Modi said.