Move from 'endless war' to 'end to war': PM Modi's message to Putin in Bishkek

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday told Russian President Vladimir Putin that India supports all efforts towards peace in Ukraine and called for moving from an "endless war" towards an "end to the war".

Modi made the remarks during a bilateral meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek.

"We have always discussed the situation in Ukraine. When we met last time as well, you had briefed me in detail about all aspects of the situation," Modi said.

"As you know, India supports all efforts towards peace and will continue to support every effort to establish peace. Every day spent in war pushes humanity backwards, while every step towards peace fills humanity with new hope and enthusiasm. We must move from an endless war towards an end to the war. This is essential for the welfare of humanity," he said.

Modi said India’s message was that all issues should be resolved peacefully at the earliest.

"It is the call of humanity and India's message that all issues should be resolved peacefully at the earliest. The land of Gandhi, the land of Buddha, has only one message, the message of peace," he said.

The talks between the two leaders come just over a week before Putin is scheduled to travel to India to attend the annual BRICS Summit.

Modi said he looked forward to discussing the issues with Putin and welcomed his upcoming visit to India.

"Your visit will further strengthen our bilateral relations and also enhance dialogue and cooperation within BRICS," he said.

Putin, in his opening remarks, said Russia-India relations continued to strengthen on the basis of the principles of a "special and privileged partnership".

He said the SCO was working towards deepening contacts between the Global East and South and helping promote social, economic and cultural development in the regions.

Putin said the grouping also helped in shaping a "just, multipolar world order".

"I'd like to note with satisfaction that Russian-Indian relations continue to get strengthened on the basis of the principles of the special and privileged partnership," he said, thanking Modi for his "special attention" to bilateral ties.

After the meeting, Modi said in a post on X that the two leaders had held "extensive discussions" on the full range of the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.

"It is gladdening to see significant progress across various sectors in recent years," Modi said.

He said the focus areas for the India-Russia friendship remained energy, innovation, space, fertilisers and people-to-people linkages.