Modi urged Putin to move from "endless war" to its end
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin called for a speedy peaceful end to Russia's war against Ukraine. He stated that every new day of war sets humanity back, and urged a transition from "endless war" to its conclusion.
The talks took place on August 31 in Bishkek on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit. Modi posted a video of his opening statements at the meeting.
The Indian prime minister reminded Putin that the situation around Ukraine has already been discussed between them repeatedly. According to Modi, during one of the previous meetings, the Russian leader detailed his vision of the war to him.
"As you know, India supports all efforts aimed at achieving peace, and will continue to do so," — said Modi.
He stressed that the continuation of hostilities has consequences not only for the direct participants in the war.
"Every day spent in war sets humanity back, while every step toward peace gives humanity new hope. We must move from endless war to ending the war", — said the Indian prime minister.
Modi added that a speedy peaceful resolution of conflicts is, according to him, a "call of humanity" and at the same time India's position.
He separately linked this position to his country's historical and cultural heritage.
"The land of Gandhi and the land of Buddha carries one message — to follow the path of peace", — said the Indian prime minister.
At the same time, Modi did not present a new concrete peace plan and did not announce any agreements with Putin regarding the cessation of war. His statements outlined New Delhi's position before further discussion of the Ukrainian issue at the bilateral meeting.
India and Russia will continue economic cooperation
Despite Modi's call to end the war, a significant part of the meeting was devoted to the development of Russian-Indian relations. The Indian prime minister stated that cooperation between the two countries continues to expand, and the priority for New Delhi remains the protection of national interests.
After the talks, Modi reported that the sides reviewed a wide range of issues within the framework of a "special and privileged strategic partnership." Among the main areas he named energy, innovations, space, fertilizers, and people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
Putin, in turn, spoke of positive trade dynamics. According to him, in the first half of 2026, trade turnover between Russia and India increased by 2.6%.
The Russian leader also reported that the number of Indian students studying in Russia has grown approximately sevenfold in recent years and reached about 40 thousand people. Tourist flow between the two countries, according to his data, increased by 16% in 2025.
Putin expected in India for BRICS summit
Another topic of the talks was the upcoming meeting of BRICS leaders. India will host the organization's summit in New Delhi on September 12–13.
Modi said he expects Putin and the Russian delegation to attend. According to him, the visit should contribute to the further development of bilateral relations and cooperation between the two states within BRICS.
Thus, at the meeting in Bishkek, India simultaneously confirmed its interest in maintaining close relations with Russia and publicly called for an end to the war against Ukraine. Modi's central message was the demand to move from continuing hostilities to a peaceful settlement.
Source: Narendra Modi, Akashvani News, The Indian Express
