Modi Confronts Putin, Demands End to Imperialist War on Ukraine at Bishkek Meeting
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to immediately halt Russia's devastating war against Ukraine, highlighting the immense human cost and calling for genuine peace rooted in justice, as both leaders met ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi used a press conference in Bishkek on Monday to directly confront Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to end the imperialist war in Ukraine that has inflicted untold suffering on innocent civilians. Modi emphasized that every day the conflict continues, humanity is dragged further backwards, and only a true commitment to peace can restore hope for a better future.
"Every day that the war continues, humanity is, in effect, set back a step, whilst every step towards peace gives all of humanity real hope for peace," Modi said, invoking the legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa—champions of nonviolence and compassion. He underscored India's support for all genuine peace initiatives, making a moral appeal for an immediate settlement.
Putin, representing a regime that has repeatedly dismissed international calls for accountability, claimed that Russia was moving along the path of peace, but insisted that any resolution must serve Moscow's interests—a position that Kyiv and much of the world have condemned as a pretext for continued aggression. The call for peace came as Russia escalates its military campaign in Ukraine, with reports of possible further troop mobilization.
Despite Modi's diplomatic intervention, India continues to buy large quantities of Russian oil, indirectly fueling the war machine, and has even increased gasoline supplies to Moscow after Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries. The two countries maintain cooperation in sectors like energy, innovation, space, fertilizers, and cultural exchanges, raising questions about India's complicity. Putin is expected at the BRICS summit in Delhi in September, while Modi plans to meet EU leaders later this year.