Bishkek: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek and reiterated India’s support for efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.
During the bilateral meeting, Modi said the world must move away from prolonged conflict, stressing that every day spent in war pushes humanity backwards.
“Every day spent in war sets humanity back, whereas every step taken towards peace fills humanity with new hope and enthusiasm. We must move away from endless war and an end to the war. This is essential for the well-being of humanity,” Modi said.
Referring to his previous discussions with Putin on Ukraine, Modi said India had consistently supported efforts aimed at peace and would continue to do so.
“A peaceful resolution to all issues at the earliest is the call of humanity, and this is India’s message. The land of Gandhi and the land of Buddha share a single message, the path of peace,” he said.
Modi also recalled his remarks at the 2022 SCO Summit in Samarkand, where he had told Putin that “today’s era is not an era of war.”
According to Russian news agency TASS, Putin said at the beginning of the meeting that Russia-India relations continued to strengthen on the basis of their “special and privileged partnership”. He also thanked Modi for his attention to bilateral ties.
The meeting took place at the Aksakal Meeting Room at the Ala-Archa State Residence in Bishkek, with Putin accompanied by senior Russian officials.
Russia remains an important strategic partner for India, particularly in the defence and energy sectors.
