Bishkek, August 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reiterated India’s support for all peaceful efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict, saying the priority should be to move from a situation of “endless war” towards an end to hostilities.
Speaking during a joint statement with Russian President Vladimir Putin after their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, PM Modi said India had consistently advocated dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict.
“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 end at the earliest.
Referring to his previous discussions with President Putin on the Ukraine situation, the Prime Minister said India supported peaceful methods to resolve the impasse. He reiterated that India’s position was centred on resolving disputes through dialogue and peaceful means.
The remarks reinforce Modi’s earlier statement that “this is not an era of war”, made during his meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the SCO summit in 2022. At the time, Modi had emphasised diplomacy and dialogue as the means to address the conflict.
India has since maintained communication with both Russia and Ukraine, with New Delhi repeatedly calling for dialogue and diplomacy as the basis for resolving the conflict.
During his latest remarks, Modi also linked India’s position to the country’s association with the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Gautama Buddha. “The land of Gandhi and the land of Buddha share a single message: the path of peace,” he said.
He also said that every day of war represents a setback for humanity and stressed the need to work towards ending hostilities.
The meeting between Modi and Putin comes ahead of Putin’s expected visit to New Delhi for the BRICS summit. The upcoming engagement is expected to provide another opportunity for the two countries to discuss bilateral relations and international developments, including the Ukraine conflict.
India’s position reflects its continued emphasis on strategic autonomy while maintaining diplomatic engagement with both Russia and Western countries. New Delhi has maintained that dialogue and diplomacy are necessary for a lasting resolution to the conflict.
