PM Modi, during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, called for an end to the war in Ukraine, stressing India’s continued support for peace, peaceful dialogue and efforts aimed at resolving global conflicts for humanity’s well-being.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reiterated India’s strong support for all efforts aimed at achieving peace in Ukraine, saying that the world must move away from an endless war towards an end to the conflict. Addressing Russian President Vladimir Putin during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Modi stressed that peace is essential for the well-being of humanity.
In his opening remarks, Modi said India would continue to support every effort directed towards establishing peace in Ukraine. He underlined the broader humanitarian consequences of prolonged warfare and called for renewed efforts to bring the conflict to an end.
“As you know, India supports all efforts towards peace and will continue to do so,” Modi said. He added that every day spent in war pushes humanity backwards, while every move towards peace brings renewed hope and enthusiasm.
“We must move from an endless war towards an end to the war. This is essential for the well-being of humanity,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi noted that the situation in Ukraine had been discussed by the two leaders on earlier occasions. He said Putin had also briefed him in detail about different aspects of the conflict during their previous meeting. The latest discussion therefore provided another opportunity for the two leaders to exchange views on the continuing conflict and broader international developments.
Describing India’s position as a “call of humanity”, Modi said New Delhi has consistently maintained that disputes and outstanding issues should be resolved through peaceful means and at the earliest possible opportunity.
“The land of Gandhi and the land of Buddha has one message: to follow the path of peace,” Modi said, referring to India’s longstanding philosophical traditions of non-violence and peaceful coexistence.
The Prime Minister’s remarks came amid continued international efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict. India has maintained diplomatic engagement with both Russia and other major global partners while repeatedly emphasizing dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward.
During the meeting, Modi also looked ahead to India’s upcoming hosting of the BRICS Summit in Delhi. He said Indians were eager to welcome Putin and the Russian delegation to the country.
“In a few days from now, India will host the BRICS Summit. All Indians are very eager to welcome you and your delegation to India,” Modi said. He added that Putin’s visit would further strengthen bilateral relations between India and Russia while contributing to dialogue and cooperation within the BRICS framework.
The latest Modi-Putin interaction followed a visit to Moscow by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on August 24. During his visit, Jaishankar met Putin and conveyed a personal message from Prime Minister Modi.
“Pleased to call on President Vladimir Putin of Russia in Moscow today. Handed over a personal message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Jaishankar said in a post on X following the meeting.
The External Affairs Minister said he also briefed Putin on discussions held under the 27th India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation, commonly referred to as IRIGC-TEC. The discussions covered cooperation between the two countries across several areas, besides regional and global issues of importance.
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According to a statement released by the Kremlin, Putin said Jaishankar’s visit reflected the depth of relations established between Russia and India over several decades. He highlighted cooperation between the two countries in governmental and parliamentary affairs as well as economic ties.
Putin also pointed to growth in bilateral trade. He said trade turnover had increased during the current year after declining slightly in the previous year. The Russian President attributed part of the improvement to Modi’s personal attention towards developing Russian-Indian relations.
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The sequence of high-level engagements highlights the continued importance both New Delhi and Moscow attach to their longstanding strategic partnership. At the same time, Modi’s latest message to Putin places peace and the humanitarian consequences of war at the centre of India’s diplomatic position on Ukraine.
