India Urges Putin to End 'Endless War' in Ukraine at SCO Summit
PM Modi tells President Putin that India supports peace efforts and calls for an end to the Ukraine conflict.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to move from an "endless war" to an "end of war" in Ukraine. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Monday.
Speaking through a translator, Modi reiterated India's consistent support for all efforts aimed at achieving peace. "Every day spent in war pushes humanity back and every step taken towards peace fills humanity with new hope and enthusiasm," he said. He stressed that resolving all issues peacefully is what humanity calls for and that this is India's message.
Modi also invoked the legacy of Gandhi and Buddha, stating that the path towards peace is the only message from the land of their birth. He noted that he and Putin had previously discussed the Ukraine issue in detail and looked forward to further discussions on the matter.
Putin, in his earlier remarks, said that Russia's relationship with India is strengthening. The leaders were gathered with other heads of state, including those from Iran and China, in a grouping often viewed as a counterweight to U.S. global influence.