Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 31 [1] to call for an end to the Ukraine war.
The meeting underscores India's attempt to maintain a strategic partnership with Russia while positioning itself as a mediator for global peace. As the conflict in Ukraine continues, Modi's direct appeal to Putin highlights New Delhi's goal of stabilizing regional security.
The leaders met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan [2]. During the discussions, Modi urged a transition away from a cycle of perpetual conflict. "We have to go from endless war to the end of the war," Modi said [5].
Modi specifically pressed for a resolution to the Ukraine conflict, stating that the two nations must work together to bring the fighting to a close [3]. The meeting also served as a review of India-Russia strategic cooperation, focusing on how the two countries can address current geopolitical developments.
Beyond the formal diplomatic agenda, the two leaders demonstrated a close rapport by traveling together in the same vehicle following the meeting [3]. Despite the pressure from Western allies to distance themselves from Moscow, Modi said that "India's national interest is supreme" [1].
The discussions in Bishkek occurred amid a broader SCO gathering, where member states reviewed security and economic ties. The meeting between Modi and Putin remained a focal point of the summit, as India continues to balance its relations between the East and the West, a strategy aimed at ensuring its own energy and defense security.
“"We have to go from endless war to the end of the war."”
This meeting signals that India will continue to pursue a policy of strategic autonomy, refusing to align fully with Western sanctions or diplomatic isolation of Russia. By calling for an end to the war while maintaining a close personal and strategic relationship with Putin, Modi is attempting to maintain India's role as a bridge between the Global South and the major powers of the North.
