Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday that the war in Ukraine must be brought to an end in the interest of humanity, adding that New Delhi would continue to back every credible peace initiative aimed at stopping the fighting.
Modi made the remarks as he opened talks with Putin in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Addressing the Russian leader as “my friend,” he also praised the expanding India-Russia economic relationship, saying the partnership was shaped by a shared commitment to place the interests of both countries first.
India, alongside China, remains one of the largest buyers of Russian oil. Those purchases have helped Moscow shore up state revenues since it sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in 2022 and was subsequently hit by sweeping Western sanctions.
“As you are aware, India supports all peace efforts in this regard, and we shall continue to do so in the future,” Modi told Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, according to a Kremlin transcript of their exchange.
“Every day that the war continues, humanity is, in effect, set back a step, whilst every step towards peace gives all of humanity real hope for peace. We need to move from endless war to an end to the war, to a cessation of hostilities. And we will need to move precisely in this direction,” Modi said, reiterating a position he has voiced before in calling for a peace settlement in Ukraine.
“Thank you very much, Prime Minister. We are moving forward along this path,” Putin replied, according to Russian state media.
After the meeting, the Kremlin said Putin had briefed Modi on the progress of what Moscow calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine, the state-run TASS news agency reported. Russia has repeatedly maintained that it is prepared to end the war only on its own terms, conditions Ukraine has rejected as an unacceptable demand for capitulation.
