Modi Urges Putin to End War in Ukraine at BRICS Talks

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war against Ukraine during bilateral discussions held on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi, the Hindustan Times reported. During their meeting, Modi reiterated New Delhi’s longstanding diplomatic stance, emphasizing that “dialogue and diplomacy are the path to resolving conflicts” and affirming that India remains prepared to support international peace efforts.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two leaders reviewed regional and international security developments, focusing specifically on conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region that have disrupted maritime commerce and imperiled merchant crews. The discussions regarding maritime security follow recent drone and missile strikes on commercial shipping in the Black Sea, which resulted in the deaths of at least five Indian seafarers in recent weeks. The incidents prompted official diplomatic protests from New Delhi to both Moscow and Kyiv, with Indian authorities characterizing attacks on commercial maritime personnel as unacceptable. Consecutive appeals following Bishkek summit Saturday’s exchange marks the second time in less than two weeks that Modi has directly called on the Russian leader to halt military operations. On Aug. 31, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Modi urged Putin to transition from an “endless war to ending the war.” Other Topics of Interest Russian Ballistic Missiles Strike Zaporizhstal Steel Plant, Injuring 4 Russian ballistic missiles struck the Zaporizhstal steel plant in Zaporizhzhia on Saturday, injuring four workers and causing critical damage. Addressing Putin during their opening remarks in Bishkek, Modi emphasized that prolonged warfare imposes severe setbacks on global stability, stating that every day of conflict moves humanity backward while steps toward peace provide renewal and hope. Modi framed his appeal through India’s traditional foreign policy principles, remarking that “the land of Gandhi and the land of Buddha has only one message – peace.” India has maintained close strategic, defense, and economic ties with Russia, significantly expanding imports of discounted Russian crude oil over the course of the full-scale invasion while declining to join Western sanctions against Moscow. However, New Delhi has consistently avoided endorsing Russian military actions, maintaining dialogue with Kyiv and advocating for a negotiated settlement based on international law. The bilateral engagement in New Delhi follows a diplomatic mission by Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to Kyiv in early September, during which President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed appreciation for India’s commitment to diplomatic engagement. BRICS summit diplomacy amid regional conflicts The discussions between Modi and Putin took place as leaders gathered in New Delhi for the two-day annual BRICS summit, which opened Saturday amid complex geopolitical divisions across its expanded 11-member bloc. The summit marks Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first official visit to India since 2019, reflecting gradual diplomatic stabilization between the two Asian powers following deadly 2020 border clashes along their disputed Himalayan frontier. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also arrived in New Delhi for talks, placing ongoing conflict in the Middle East and energy transit security high on the multilateral agenda alongside representatives from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.