Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts to bring an end to the Ukraine war, saying the Indian leader has put forward “very good ideas” to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
Speaking at an event in Moscow, Putin said Modi has consistently raised the issue of ending the war despite the close and friendly ties between India and Russia. He also appreciated the Prime Minister’s interest in finding a solution acceptable to all sides.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one of those world leaders who, despite our very good and even friendly relations, constantly raises the question of putting an end to the conflict in Ukraine,” Putin said. He added that Modi has shown a keen interest in finding a way out of the crisis and has offered ideas aimed at reaching mutually acceptable solutions.
Putin also acknowledged India’s position on the conflict, describing it as neutral but firmly interested in bringing the war to an end through peaceful means.
“We are thankful to the Prime Minister for his ideas and his desire to put an end to this conflict through peaceful means and as soon as possible,” the Russian President said.
Modi has repeatedly called for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which began in February 2022. During his meeting with Putin on September 11, held on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in India, the Prime Minister reiterated that diplomatic engagement remains the only way forward.
Earlier, during his meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Modi had called for an end to the prolonged fighting.
“We have to move from a situation of ‘endless war’ to ‘end of war’. It is humanity’s wish that the end of this war happens soonest,” Modi said during a joint statement with Putin. The Prime Minister also recalled his earlier discussions with the Russian leader on Ukraine and reiterated India’s support for peaceful efforts to resolve the crisis.
India has maintained that dialogue and diplomacy are essential to securing lasting peace, with Modi conveying the same message in his interactions with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
During a meeting with Putin in 2022, Modi had famously told the Russian President that “this is not an era of war”, a message he has continued to emphasise in subsequent diplomatic engagements.