President Vladimir Putin telephoned Prime Minister at 7.30 pm on Tuesday and discussed the evolving situation in Ukraine and the recent referendum in Crimea.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh thanked President Putin for explaining the Russian position with regard to recent developments in Ukraine and how Crimeans wanted to be a part of Russia.
He emphasised the consistent position India had on the issues of unity and territorial integrity of countries. Prime Minister expressed his hope that all sides would exercise restraint and work together constructively to find political and diplomatic solutions that protected the legitimate interests of all countries in the region and ensured long term peace and stability in Europe and beyond.
Manmohan Singh and Putin also discussed "the close relationship and mutually beneficial partnership" between their countries and reaffirmed the importance that the two sides attached to their special and privileged strategic partnership.
Prime Minister also thanked President Putin for his personal leadership in further deepening and strengthening the India-Russia strategic partnership in recent years.
"The prime minister expressed hope that all sides would exercise restraint and work together constructively to find political and diplomatic solutions that protected the legitimate interests of all countries in the region and ensured long term peace and stability in Europe and beyond," it added.
"The prime minister also thanked President Putin for his personal leadership in further deepening and strengthening the India-Russia strategic partnership in recent years," the release said.
Crimea, a Ukrainian autonomous republic, held a referendum Sunday, with over 96 percent of the voters choosing to join Russia.
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