'You have influence': US Senator calls on India to help Trump end Ukraine war; has supported president's tariffs on New Delhi

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of Donald Trump’s tariffs on India, has urged New Delhi to use its “influence” to help the US president end the war in Ukraine.Also Read | US tariffs: Who is Lindsey Graham? The US senator who warned of 100% duty on India, China Graham’s remarks followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s social media post on his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.“As I have been telling my friends in India, one of the most consequential things they could do to improve India–U.S. relations is to help President Trump end this bloodbath in Ukraine,” the South Carolina senator wrote on X.

India, Graham noted, is the second-largest buyer of discounted Russian oil, alleging that the revenue from these purchases is used by Putin to “fuel his war machine.” He expressed hope that PM Modi emphasized to the Russian leader the need to “end this war justly, honorably and forever,” adding that India has “influence in this matter” and should “use it wisely.”PM Modi-Putin phone callDuring a phone conversation on Friday, Putin updated PM Modi on the latest developments in Ukraine, according to the Kremlin. “In light of the special privileged partnership between Russia and India, President Vladimir Putin shared the key outcomes of his meeting with US President’s Special Envoy Steven Witkoff,” the statement read.The prime minister reiterated India’s “unwavering stance” in favour of resolving the conflict through political and diplomatic means, and invited Putin for the 23rd annual bilateral summit.