Indian PM Modi offers Ukraine war warning as he visits Germany

Narendra Modi says no party can win conflict in talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

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  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen attend a news briefing at the Prime Minister's official residence Marienborg, north of Copenhagen. Reuters

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  The Indian leader arrived in the country to join the prime ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway at a two-day India-Nordic Summit from May 3. AFP

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  Ms Frederiksen and Mr Modi talk as they walk through the garden of the Danish leader's official residence. AFP

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  Talks are set to focus on the green strategic partnership that Denmark and India entered into in 2020 and on the green energy transition, reports said. AP

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  After arriving in Denmark, Mr Modi called for a ceasefire in Ukraine and peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.. EPA

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  The Indian prime minister greets members of a band after he landed at Copenhagen Airport. AFP

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  Ms Frederiksen and Denmark's ambassador to New Delhi Freddy Svane receive Mr Modi at Copenhagen Airport. Reuters

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  Mr Modi disembarks from his plane after landing. AFP

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  German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands after signing a set of agreements to deepen India's ties with Germany, at the Chancellery in Berlin, on Monday. Getty Images

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  Mr Scholz and Mr Modi met for the sixth India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations in Berlin, a regular dialogue format of ministers from both sides. Getty Images

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  The leaders sign contracts at the Chancellery in Berlin. Getty Images

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  German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, right, and Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman talk during a family picture at the Chancellery in Berlin. EPA

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  Mr Scholz and Mr Modi with participants of the Indo-German governmental consultations. AFP

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  Mr Scholz sits opposite Mr Modi before the India-Germany governmental consultations at the Chancellery in Berlin. AFP

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  After meeting Mr Scholz in Berlin, Mr Modi called for talks to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict. AFP

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  Mr Modi's meeting with Mr Scholz comes on the first leg of his three-day trip to Germany, France and Denmark for talks amid the continuing conflict in Ukraine. Getty Images

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  Mr Modi said his meeting with Mr Scholz was meant to “strengthen the spirit of co-operation with our European partners, who are important companions in India’s quest for peace and prosperity”. Getty Images

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  The agreements signed by Mr Modi and Mr Scholz include a plan to work together on producing green hydrogen. Getty Images

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  Mr Scholz welcomes Mr Modi with a military parade before the India-Germany government consultations at the Chancellery in Berlin. Reuters

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  Mr Scholz welcomes Mr Modi to Berlin with a military parade. AP

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  The German chancellorgives Mr Modi the red-carpet treatment with a military parade in Berlin. Reuters

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Germany, France and Denmark for talks amid the continuing conflict in Ukraine.

After meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on the first leg of his three-day trip, Mr Modi urged dialogue to resolve the conflict because “no party can emerge victorious in this war”.

He expressed concern that food shortages linked to the war between Russia and Ukraine, two of the world's top wheat producers, would affect poor and developing countries most heavily.

“Everyone will suffer losses and that is why we are for peace,” he said.

The two leaders signed a set of agreements to deepen India's ties with Germany including the establishment of an encrypted hotline between the two foreign offices, a plan to combat deforestation and the creation of a joint task force on green hydrogen.

India will also be invited to attend the G7 summit that Germany is hosting in June, meaning Mr Modi could return to the country as soon as next month.

Mr Scholz's spokesman Steffen Hebestreit would not be drawn on suggestions that Germany, which is committing €10 billion ($10.6bn) to the package of bilateral agreements, was trying to entice India into a more western-friendly position on Ukraine.

But he said it was “clear that we have different positions in how we assess the war in Ukraine” and that these would be discussed by the two leaders.

Mr Modi, whose government has walked a fine line by urging an end to hostilities without directly condemning Russia, said his visit was meant to “strengthen the spirit of co-operation with our European partners, who are important companions in India’s quest for peace and prosperity”.

Mr Modi on Monday co-chaired the sixth India-Germany Inter-Governmental Consultations, a regular dialogue format of ministers from both sides.

The agreements signed between the governments included a plan to work together on producing green hydrogen, as the fuel is known when it is generated from renewable sources, which will bring together officials, industry figures and research institutes from the two countries.

Germany will support the protection and restoration of forests in India, which hopes to reinstate 26 million hectares of woodland by the end of the decade.

Described by Mr Scholz as a key country for tackling climate change, India has set 2070 as its target date for net zero carbon emissions and angered some countries at last year's Cop26 summit by pushing through a last-minute amendment that weakened the eventual agreement on coal power.

Mr Modi also discussed easing immigration rules for skilled workers from India to tackle labour shortages in Europe’s largest economy.

He will visit Copenhagen on May 3 and May 4 and hold bilateral engagements with his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen. Mr Modi will also participate in the second India-Nordic Summit, along with the prime ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway.

Meeting with Macron

The summit will focus on subjects including post-pandemic economic recovery; climate change; innovation and technology; renewable energy; the evolving global security scenario; and India-Nordic co-operation in the Arctic region, Mr Modi said.

On his return journey, Mr Modi will stop briefly in Paris to meet French President Emmanuel Macron, who was re-elected to a second term last month and is likely to set a more ambitious agenda of the Strategic Partnership.

Mr Modi’s visit to the European nations comes at a time when New Delhi has irked its European and western allies with its neutral stance on the Russian invasion.

The South Asian nation has been pressing for “diplomacy and dialogue” to resolve the crisis, while repeatedly abstaining from the EU-backed resolutions that censured Russia at the UN.