PM Narendra Modi and President Emmanuel Macron called for an immediate cessation of hostilities

There was a broad understanding of each other's position on Ukraine as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to intensify coordination on the issue during their meeting in Paris on Wednesday.

The two leaders discussed the regional and global implications of the conflict in Ukraine and agreed to intensify coordination on the issue.

"On Ukraine, there was a broad understanding of each other's position. The two leaders agreed that close coordination and engagement was important. So that both India and France can play a constructive role in the evolving situation," Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said after the talks between Prime Minister Modi and President Macron.

"Prime Minister Modi gave a very elaborate understanding of the space from where Indian position originated in counts for, which calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities and the resolution to the ongoing situation through diplomacy and dialogue," he added, in response to questions on the issue.

According to Foreign Secretary Kwatra, the two leaders also spoke very extensively, exchanged views very extensively on the cascading effect of the situation in Ukraine, in terms of global food shortages, shortages of commodities, such as fertilizer and how the two countries can partner together in order to address some of these challenges which are very real and felt on the ground.

"As I mentioned earlier on, there is a very clear understanding of each other's position and they did agree to stay in touch and coordinate very closely. So that as the situation evolves, they can both individually or together play a constructive role in this situation, in order so that all these challenges, which I talked about can be resolved," the Foreign Secretary said.

According to the Joint Statement issued after the talks between PM Modi and President Macron, India and France expressed serious concern at the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.

"They unequivocally condemned civilian deaths in Ukraine and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities to bring parties together to promote dialogue and diplomacy to find an immediate end to the suffering of the people," it said.

"India and France express deep concern about the current aggravation of global food security and nutrition, already impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and especially in developing countries," the statement said.