Modi’s call to Putin on Ukraine: “End the endless war”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, that the war in Ukraine must be brought to an end.

Speaking at a press conference held ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, Modi emphasized that Moscow needs to move from an “endless war to the end of the war.”

Every day that the war continues, humanity effectively takes a step backward; every step taken toward peace gives all of humanity a real hope for peace.

Stating that the conflicts must be halted, Modi said, “We need to move from an endless war to the end of the war, to a cessation of hostilities. We must move exactly in this direction.”

It was reported that Putin responded to the Indian Prime Minister by saying, “Thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister. We are moving along this path.”

NEW DELHI-MOSCOW LINE

India has maintained its economic relations with Russia since the start of the Ukraine war. The New Delhi administration has purchased large quantities of discounted oil from Moscow; ties between the two countries also continue in areas such as energy, defense, space, and mobility.

Nevertheless, despite his close relations with Russia, Modi stands out as one of the few leaders to directly tell Putin that the war must end. Addressing Putin as “my friend” during the meeting, Modi evaluated the relations between the two countries within the framework of what India officially defines as a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.”

While the Moscow administration has stated in various declarations that it is only prepared to end the war on its own terms, Kyiv finds these conditions unacceptable.

The annual leaders' summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, founded in 1996, is being held in Kyrgyzstan this year. The summit, which brings together Eurasian countries, addresses topics of political, economic, and international security cooperation.

In addition to the leaders of Russia and India, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and the leaders of Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, and Kazakhstan are attending the meeting in Bishkek. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn are also expected to participate in the summit.

News Source: 12punto