Amidst the Ukraine crisis, Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephonic conversation with PM Narendra Modi on Friday. Media reports quoting the Kremlin from the Russian presidential office said that the two heads of state discussed current global issues, including the Ukraine crisis.

Here, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in New Delhi said in a statement that PM Modi, in his talks with Russian President Putin, reiterated his call to pursue dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The PMO said that after their meeting in Samarkand on the sidelines of the SCO summit, PM Modi and Putin reviewed several aspects of bilateral ties including energy cooperation, trade and investment, defense cooperation.

India's G-20 chairmanship discussed, according to the PMO, PM Modi briefed President Putin about India's G-20 chairmanship and its key priorities. He also hoped that the two countries would work together under India's chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Also PM Modi and Putin agreed to maintain regular contact with each other.

Let me tell you, a day earlier this information had come to the fore that PM Modi will not participate in the India-Russia summit to be held in Russia this year. Russian President Putin had visited India last year to participate in this conference.