Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told a visibly uncomfortable Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine for the sake of humanity during a meeting in Kyrgyzstan on Monday. At a press conference before the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Bishkek, Modi called Putin “my friend” and praised significant economic progress between the two countries before switching to the matter of war. We need to move from endless war to an end to the war, to a cessation of hostilities,” said Modi as Putin looked at the floor and tapped his feet.
Calling for a peace settlement and invoking Gandhi and Mother Theresa, Modi said India supports all peace efforts, and this is the direction that must be pursued. We are moving forward along this path,” Putin responded. Russia insists that ending the war in Ukraine can only be done on its own terms, something Kyiv has continually rejected.
Meanwhile, attacks on Ukraine have intensified in recent days, along with rumors that Moscow is set to mobilize hundreds of thousands of fresh troops and step up ground offensives. Ukraine has also scaled up its drone strikes, attacking energy infrastructure within Russia, as well as the warehouses of online retailers Wildberries and Ozon. While Modi’s call is one of the most direct, particularly to the face of the Russian president, India continues to be a significant trading partner of Russia.
India is one of the biggest buyers of Russian oil and has also recently stepped up to provide gasoline to Moscow following Ukraine’s attacks on its refineries. India’s purchases of Russian oil has brought it into conflict with U.S. President Donald Trump, who scrapped a trade deal over the issue in 2025.
Top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas called India’s Russian oil purchases and participation in military exercises “obstacles to our cooperation when it comes to deepening the ties.” Despite his public dressing down of the Russian leader, Modi didn’t suggest that the trade relationship between the two countries could be used as leverage to pressure Russia to stop the war. Putin is expected to attend the BRICS summit in Delhi on Sept. 12 and 13. Modi is expected to meet EU leaders in December.
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