Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 31 to move from “endless war” toward ending Russia’s war against Ukraine.<\/p>\n
The remarks marked a public appeal from the leader of one of Russia’s partners and largest energy customers for Moscow<\/a> to end the war, even as India<\/a> continues to deepen its economic ties with Russia.<\/p>\n “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,” Modi told Putin<\/a> on the sidelines of the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek.<\/p>\n “We need to move from endless war to an end to the war, to a cessation of hostilities.”<\/p>\n Modi also reiterated India’s position that dialogue and diplomacy are the way forward in resolving conflicts, according to the Indian Prime Minister’s Office<\/a>.<\/p>\n At their first in-person meeting this year, the two leaders discussed defense, energy, trade, space, and mobility, as well as the Black Sea region, maritime trade, and the safety of Indian seafarers.<\/p>\n Russian state media reported that Putin briefed Modi on developments in Russia’s war<\/a> against Ukraine.<\/p>\n India remains Russia’s second-largest customer of fossil fuels, only behind China. Purchases of Russian oil<\/a> from the two countries have helped replenish Moscow’s budget since 2022.<\/p>\n Putin also met Chinese President Xi Jinping<\/a> at the two-day SCO summit, though the Kremlin said their talks only “superficially” touched on the war in Ukraine and focused on bilateral ties.<\/p>\n Despite the rare public appeal to end the war, Modi called Putin “my friend” and praised growing economic ties between India and Russia<\/a>.<\/p>\n In July, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also publicly called for Russia’s war against Ukraine<\/a> to be frozen, urging a return to peace negotiations. His remarks marked a rare public call from the leader of one of Russia’s close regional partners for Moscow to pursue a negotiated end to the war.<\/p>\n Russia and India will continue strengthening what India describes as their “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.” Modi said he expects to host Putin in India for the BRICS<\/a> summit on Sept. 12\u201313.<\/p>\n