Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is “working towards a peaceful settlement in Ukraine” after his bilateral meeting and joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Putin emphasised that diplomatic channels remain open, even as the conflict continues to shape global geopolitics. This report breaks down what Putin’s remarks actually signal, how India is positioning itself as a potential stabilising force, and what the next steps could look like for Ukraine, Russia, Europe and the wider international community.


Putin Working Towards 'Peaceful Settlement' In Ukraine: Press Conference After Bilateral Meet 

<p>The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has denied reports in some sections of the media that said issues related to Pakistan were discussed in the meeting between ADB President Masato Kanda and Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Milan on Monday (May 5).&nbsp;</p>
<p>The clarification said, &ldquo;The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is aware of media reports claiming that issues related to Pakistan were discussed during the bilateral meeting between ADB President Masato Kanda and Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the sidelines of the 58th ADB Annual Meeting in Milan, Italy.&rdquo;</p>
<p>These media reports are incorrect. Issues related to Pakistan were not discussed during the bilateral meeting, it added.</p>
<p>Earlier, some reports had claimed that the Indian finance minister had urged ADB to slash funding to Pakistan allegedly over its continued support of cross-border terrorism. The report spread as India had already unleashed a slew of diplomatic and economic measures against Pakistan following the horrific killing of 26 unarmed civilians, mostly tourists, in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, by terrorists belonging to group which is an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.</p>
<p>The Asian Development Bank termed the media reports as incorrect and clarified, saying, &ldquo;Issues related to Pakistan were not discussed during the bilateral meeting.&rdquo;</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-mabdkd6b-kim90t8m-mh3zbuum">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Several posts on social media claim that India has urged Italy and the Asian Development Bank to cut funds for Pakistan. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PIBFactCheck?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PIBFactCheck</a> <br><br>❌ This claim is completely fake. India has not made any such request.<br><br>✅ Beware! Trust only official government sources for credible&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/H5jrIkGjmc">pic.twitter.com/H5jrIkGjmc</a></p>
&mdash; PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) <a href="https://twitter.com/PIBFactCheck/status/1919423436775952748?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
<p>Meanwhile, India&rsquo;s Ministry of Finance also shared a PIB fact check on X stating that social media posts claiming India has urged Italy and the Asian Development Bank to cut funds for Pakistan were incorrect.</p>

World | India News: Earlier, some reports had claimed that the Indian finance minister had urged ADB to slash funding to Pakistan allegedly over its continued support of cross-border terrorism.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has denied reports in some sections of the media that said issues related to Pakistan were discussed in the meeting between ADB President Masato Kanda and Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Milan on Monday (May 5). The clarification said, “The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is aware of media reports claiming that issues related to Pakistan were discussed during the bilateral meeting between ADB President Masato Kanda and Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the sidelines of the 58th ADB Annual Meeting in Milan, Italy.” These media reports are incorrect. Issues related to Pakistan were not discussed during the bilateral meeting, it added. Earlier, some reports had claimed that the Indian finance minister had urged ADB to slash funding to Pakistan allegedly over its continued support of cross-border terrorism. The report spread as India had already unleashed a slew of diplomatic and economic measures against Pakistan following the horrific killing of 26 unarmed civilians, mostly tourists, in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, by terrorists belonging to group which is an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. The Asian Development Bank termed the media reports as incorrect and clarified, saying, “Issues related to Pakistan were not discussed during the bilateral meeting.” Several posts on social media claim that India has urged Italy and the Asian Development Bank to cut funds for Pakistan. #PIBFactCheck ❌ This claim is completely fake. India has not made any such request. ✅ Beware! Trust only official government sources for credible… pic.twitter.com/H5jrIkGjmc — PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 5, 2025 Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of Finance also shared a PIB fact check on X stating that social media posts claiming India has urged Italy and the Asian Development Bank to cut funds for Pakistan were incorrect.

ADB denies reports of Pakistan issue being raised in bilateral meet with Indian Finance Minister

<p>After a year of anticipation, US President Joe Biden&nbsp;and Xi Jinping held a US-China Summit on November 15.&nbsp;This marked their first meeting since their encounter in Bali, Indonesia, on the sidelines of another global gathering.</p>

<p>In addition to a formal bilateral meeting, the leaders shared lunch with top advisers and took a stroll through the lush grounds of the estate on the outskirts of San Francisco where the meeting took place.&nbsp;</p>

<p>President Biden described the meeting as having "some of the most constructive and productive discussions." Stressing the importance of open communication, Biden stated that Xi is "willing to pick up the phone," a significant development in US-China diplomacy.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | US President Joe Biden says, " Today, President Xi and I also exchanged views on a range of regional and global issues, including Russia's refusal to stop the war and brutal war of aggression against Ukraine and conflict in Gaza. As I always do, I raised areas where the… <a href="https://t.co/i8Np5yp8zM">pic.twitter.com/i8Np5yp8zM</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1724966676305990085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Here are six takeaways from the high-level meeting.</p>

<h2><strong>Middle East in focus at the summit</strong></h2>

<p>During the summit, President Biden stressed the significance of the Middle East, advocating for peace and stability in the region. The complex roles of both the United States and China in the Middle East were highlighted, acknowledging the challenges and responsibilities each nation holds.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/video-xi-jinping-snubbed-at-apec-after-free-tibet-free-uyghur-banner-goes-up-in-air-659037">Also read |&nbsp;Xi Jinping snubbed at APEC after 'Free Tibet, Free Uyghur' banner goes up in air</a></p>

<h2><strong>Taiwan's central role in US-China relations</strong></h2>

<p>Taiwan emerged as a major topic, with Xi Jinping deeming it crucial in US-China relations. Xi urged the US&nbsp;to uphold commitments regarding Taiwan's independence, expressing a preference for peaceful reunification while not excluding the possibility of using force. Biden stressed the United States' commitment to regional peace.</p>

<h2><strong>Upcoming Taiwan elections and regional stability</strong></h2>

<p>With Taiwan's January elections approaching, President Biden urged China to respect the democratic process on the island. Despite China's military presence near Taiwan, there appeared to be no immediate threat of invasion, providing a sense of reassurance.</p>

<h2><strong>Seeking China's help&nbsp;in de-escalating Iran tensions</strong></h2>

<p>Biden sought China's cooperation in de-escalating tensions with Iran. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi confirmed ongoing talks with Iran. Biden clarified that issues related to Hamas are distinct from broader Palestinian concerns, as reported by CNN.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Xi-Biden meet: Xi Jinping says 'China and US should not turn back on each other'</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/xi-biden-meet-xi-jinping-says-china-and-us-should-not-turn-back-on-each-other-world-dna-659102/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2><strong>Fentanyl production challenge</strong></h2>

<p>A significant part of the discussions revolved around fentanyl production. China committed to targeting companies associated with fentanyl production, and the US&nbsp;expressed its intention to monitor these efforts closely.</p>

<h2><strong>Restoring military-to-military communications</strong></h2>

<p>A key agreement emerged from the summit, focusing on the restoration of military-to-military communications. This step is crucial for reducing the risk of misunderstandings and managing tensions between the military forces of the two nations.</p>

<p>While no joint statement or formal cooperation declaration was reached, the summit concluded on a positive note. President Biden expressed optimism about the "real progress" made during the talks, emphasising&nbsp;the significance of engagement between the world's leading powers amid escalating global tensions.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


After a year of anticipation, US President Joe Biden and Xi Jinping held a US-China Summit on November 15. This marked their first meeting since their encounter in Bali, Indonesia, on the sidelines of another global gathering.

After a year of anticipation, US President Joe Biden and Xi Jinping held a US-China Summit on November 15. This marked their first meeting since their encounter in Bali, Indonesia, on the sidelines of another global gathering. In addition to a formal bilateral meeting, the leaders shared lunch with top advisers and took a stroll through the lush grounds of the estate on the outskirts of San Francisco where the meeting took place. President Biden described the meeting as having "some of the most constructive and productive discussions." Stressing the importance of open communication, Biden stated that Xi is "willing to pick up the phone," a significant development in US-China diplomacy. #WATCH | US President Joe Biden says, " Today, President Xi and I also exchanged views on a range of regional and global issues, including Russia's refusal to stop the war and brutal war of aggression against Ukraine and conflict in Gaza. As I always do, I raised areas where the… pic.twitter.com/i8Np5yp8zM — ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2023 × Here are six takeaways from the high-level meeting. Middle East in focus at the summit During the summit, President Biden stressed the significance of the Middle East, advocating for peace and stability in the region. The complex roles of both the United States and China in the Middle East were highlighted, acknowledging the challenges and responsibilities each nation holds. Also read | Xi Jinping snubbed at APEC after 'Free Tibet, Free Uyghur' banner goes up in air Taiwan's central role in US-China relations Taiwan emerged as a major topic, with Xi Jinping deeming it crucial in US-China relations. Xi urged the US to uphold commitments regarding Taiwan's independence, expressing a preference for peaceful reunification while not excluding the possibility of using force. Biden stressed the United States' commitment to regional peace. Upcoming Taiwan elections and regional stability With Taiwan's January elections approaching, President Biden urged China to respect the democratic process on the island. Despite China's military presence near Taiwan, there appeared to be no immediate threat of invasion, providing a sense of reassurance. Seeking China's help in de-escalating Iran tensions Biden sought China's cooperation in de-escalating tensions with Iran. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi confirmed ongoing talks with Iran. Biden clarified that issues related to Hamas are distinct from broader Palestinian concerns, as reported by CNN. Also watch | Xi-Biden meet: Xi Jinping says 'China and US should not turn back on each other' Fentanyl production challenge A significant part of the discussions revolved around fentanyl production. China committed to targeting companies associated with fentanyl production, and the US expressed its intention to monitor these efforts closely. Restoring military-to-military communications A key agreement emerged from the summit, focusing on the restoration of military-to-military communications. This step is crucial for reducing the risk of misunderstandings and managing tensions between the military forces of the two nations. While no joint statement or formal cooperation declaration was reached, the summit concluded on a positive note. President Biden expressed optimism about the "real progress" made during the talks, emphasising the significance of engagement between the world's leading powers amid escalating global tensions. (With inputs from agencies)

Xi-Biden meeting: 6 big takeaways from the US-China strategic dialogue

As per reports, China and Russia to hold meeting in Moscow. The meeting will be held to elevate their ties in 2023. Watch further to know more.

China, Russia to hold meeting in Moscow: Report

The much awaited meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin took place at the sidelines of the SCO summit. Indian PM told Russian President Putin that now is not a time for war.

SCO Summit 2022 | PM Modi to Putin: Today's era not that of war

China's Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin are all set to meet in a few hours from now. They will be discussing the war in Ukraine, tensions in the Taiwan Strait and other international and regional issues. WION correspondent Siddhant Sibbal brings details.

High-stakes bilateral meet in Uzbekistan to boost diplomatic ties

Indian PM Modi, US President Joe Biden hold first in person meet in White House ahead of Quad leaders summit

bilateral-meet

Bilateral Meet, News on Bilateral Meet, stories on Bilateral Meet, articles on Bilateral Meet, Bilateral Meet stories at Wion, Bilateral Meet news, Bilateral Meet latest news