Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday to move from endless wars to end of war, delivering a rare and direct public appeal for peace during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The encounter, watched closely by Western diplomats and regional analysts alike, marked one of the most pointed peace appeals any major world leader has directed at Putin since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
The meeting, held in the Kyrgyz capital where SCO leaders gathered for their annual summit, saw Modi press Putin directly on the Ukraine conflict while also reviewing expanding bilateral ties in trade, education, and defense. The Indian leader framed his appeal in civilizational terms, invoking the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and the Buddha in an effort to lend moral weight to his call for a negotiated settlement.
Every day spent in the war pushes humanity back. And every step taken towards peace fills humanity with new hope and enthusiasm. We will have to move from endless war to end of war, which is very important for the well-being of humanity. As soon as possible, all issues will be resolved peacefully.
Modi added: This is the call of humanity. This is the message of India. This is the message of the land of Gandhi and the land of Buddha. He noted that India supports all efforts aimed at peace and will continue to do so, calling on both sides to pursue diplomatic resolution of the conflict that has now stretched into its fifth year.
The Indian prime minister pointed to the upcoming BRICS summit that India is set to host in mid-September, saying Putin would have an opportunity to discuss issues related to peace and global cooperation at that gathering. After a few days, India is organizing the BRICS Summit, Modi said, adding that Putin’s visit would strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation within the bloc. The invitation underscored India’s determination to position itself as a bridge between East and West on the Ukraine question.
Putin highlighted the expanding scope of India-Russia relations, pointing to growth in trade, tourism, education, and multilateral cooperation. He noted that India is now among the top countries in terms of the number of students studying in Russia, with the figure having grown sevenfold in recent years to reach 40,000 students. The Russian president also emphasized growing people-to-people contacts, saying the two countries regularly organize cultural festivals and have witnessed an increase in mutual tourism.
Putin said India and Russia were closely coordinating their positions at major multilateral forums, including the United Nations, BRICS, the G20, and the SCO. Modi said the two sides had made progress in expanding economic ties since Putin’s previous visit to India, recalling the success of the bilateral business forum. Keeping the national interest at the top, moving forward is the goal of both of us, Modi said.
India Balances East and West
The meeting underscored the complex balancing act India maintains between its growing strategic partnership with the West and its decades-old relationship with Russia. New Delhi has resisted joining Western sanctions against Moscow and has continued to purchase Russian oil at discounted prices, drawing criticism from Washington and European allies. At the same time, India has deepened its military and economic cooperation with the United States, Japan, and Australia through the Quad grouping, creating a web of overlapping partnerships that defies simple categorization.
Monday’s appeal was notable for its directness, which went further than previous Indian statements on the conflict. While India has consistently called for dialogue and diplomacy, Modi’s use of the phrase endless wars and his public framing of the appeal in moral and humanitarian terms represented a shift in tone. Analysts said the language could signal growing impatience in New Delhi with the prolonged conflict and its ripple effects on global energy markets and food security. India, as the world’s third-largest oil importer, has been particularly affected by volatility in global energy markets caused by the war.
Sensitive Moment in the War
The appeal also came at a sensitive moment in the Russia-Ukraine war. Moscow’s defense ministry announced on Sunday that it was preparing massive strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in retaliation for Kyiv’s escalating drone campaign against Russian oil refineries and warehouses. Ukrainian forces, meanwhile, struck the Kirishi oil refinery in Russia’s Leningrad Oblast overnight, one of the country’s largest processing facilities, temporarily halting operations. The tit-for-tat escalation raised fears of a broader energy conflict heading into winter.
The Bishkek summit brought together leaders of the SCO, which groups China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and several Central Asian states. The gathering provides a platform for Russia to demonstrate that it retains significant diplomatic relationships despite Western isolation efforts, while India uses the forum to project its own growing influence in Eurasian geopolitics. Both leaders later traveled together to attend the inauguration of the Nomad Games, underscoring the personal rapport between the two leaders even as their talks addressed the most pressing global security issues.
The Modi-Putin meeting also took place against the backdrop of India’s own evolving foreign policy posture. Under Modi, India has pursued what officials describe as strategic autonomy, refusing to align fully with either the Western or Russian camp while seeking to maximize its own interests. The approach has drawn both praise for its pragmatism and criticism for enabling Russia’s war effort through continued energy purchases and diplomatic cover.
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