PM Modi has once again called for an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, saying the world must move from “endless war” to the “end of war” and emphasising India’s consistent support for diplomacy and dialogue.
PM Modi has reiterated India’s call for a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, telling Russian President Vladimir Putin that New Delhi supports all efforts aimed at ending the war.
Speaking during a joint statement after his bilateral meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Modi said the international community must work towards ending the prolonged conflict rather than allowing it to continue indefinitely.
“We have to move from a situation of ‘endless war’ to ‘end of war’,” Modi said, adding that it was the desire of humanity that the conflict should end at the earliest.
The Prime Minister said India had repeatedly discussed the Ukraine conflict with Putin and noted that the Russian President had previously explained Moscow’s position to him in detail.
“As you know, India supports all peaceful methods to resolve the impasse,” Modi said, stressing that New Delhi believes disputes should be resolved through peaceful means.
“India advocates for resolving all problems peacefully, which is necessary for all of humanity,” he added.
Modi’s latest remarks are consistent with the position India has maintained since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. New Delhi has repeatedly called for dialogue and diplomacy while maintaining relations with both Moscow and Kyiv.
The Prime Minister had articulated the same philosophy in particularly memorable terms during his meeting with Putin at the SCO summit in Uzbekistan in 2022.
“This is not the era of war,” Modi had told Putin at the time, urging countries to come together to address challenges threatening humanity. He had emphasised that diplomacy and dialogue remained the way forward.
India has subsequently reiterated the message in its engagements with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Modi has also frequently invoked India’s civilisational traditions while explaining New Delhi’s emphasis on peace. During his 2022 interaction with Putin, he described India as the “land of Buddha” and highlighted the country’s emphasis on empathy and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
“Every day of war sets humanity back, and we must work toward ending hostilities,” Modi said this time, reinforcing the argument that the costs of prolonged conflict extend far beyond the countries directly involved.
He also invoked the legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Gautama Buddha, saying that both traditions conveyed a common message of peace.
“India is the land of Gandhi and the land of Buddha; they share a single message: the path of peace,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi’s comments came as India continued its diplomatic engagement with Russia while maintaining its independent position on the Ukraine conflict. New Delhi has consistently resisted calls to abandon its longstanding relationship with Moscow, while simultaneously advocating negotiations to bring the war to an end.
The bilateral meeting with Putin also assumes significance as the Russian President is expected to travel to New Delhi next week for the BRICS summit.
With the war continuing to cast a shadow over global geopolitics, Modi’s latest message underlined what has become a defining feature of India’s position: dialogue over confrontation, diplomacy over escalation, and an end to war rather than an indefinite continuation of hostilities.
