Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Moscow garnered attention after a bombing in Ukraine killed several people at a children’s hospital in Kyiv. Despite Western disapproval, Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin demonstrated their close relationship, with Putin warmly embracing Modi and referring to him as his “dearest friend.”
The two leaders discussed strategic partnerships in defense, energy and technology.
During the visit, Russia denied any involvement in the Kyiv children’s hospital attack, attributing the damage to Ukrainian anti-missile defenses without providing evidence. In contrast, Ukrainian authorities contend that a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile caused the devastation, supported by missile fragments and expert analysis confirming a direct strike.
The United Nations Security Council is scheduled to meet Tuesday, July 9, to discuss the hospital attack. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the strikes as violations of international humanitarian law.
Amid the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, NATO made a significant commitment regarding Ukraine’s future within the alliance. A draft of NATO’s joint statement used the term “irreversible” to describe Ukraine’s path toward membership. This language sends a strong and clear message to both Ukraine and Russia, underscoring NATO’s solid support for Ukraine’s eventual integration into the alliance despite the ongoing conflict.
