TIANJIN, CHINA (Sept 1): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to work toward ending the war in Ukraine “as soon as possible,” calling it a moral duty to humanity.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, where Modi underscored the urgency of peace efforts.
“We welcome all recent efforts to bring peace to Ukraine and hope that all the relevant sides will move forward constructively,” Modi said in his televised opening remarks.
The India–Russia bilateral talks were closely watched, as Modi once again highlighted New Delhi’s consistent position that dialogue and diplomacy are the only way forward to resolve the crisis.
India has maintained ties with both Moscow and Western nations since the conflict broke out in February 2022, calling for de-escalation while abstaining from UN resolutions directly condemning Russia. At the same time, New Delhi has increased purchases of discounted Russian crude oil to secure energy needs, even as it pushes for peace initiatives.
The meeting comes at a time when global powers are intensifying efforts to find a pathway to peace, with the war entering its third year. Modi’s message underlines India’s role as a balancing voice within multilateral forums like the SCO.