Modi Urges Putin to End Ukraine War at Shanghai Summit Meeting

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin urging an end to the war in Ukraine, according to a report by Bangladeshi outlet কালের কণ্ঠ. The exchange took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, the report said.

Modi and Putin met face-to-face during the summit, and Modi also rode in the Russian president’s limousine after their talks, according to separate reporting from Anandabazar Patrika. The Indian leader’s comments were framed as a push to move from a state of endless conflict toward a cessation of hostilities, Jugantor reported.

The meeting came amid a broader gathering of SCO leaders, which included a handshake between Modi, Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, per Bangla Tribune. ABP Ananda quoted Modi as saying that every day of the war sets humanity back, a sentiment he conveyed directly to Putin during their conversation.

The Kremlin’s reaction to Modi’s message is still being assessed, according to কালের কণ্ঠ, which noted that Russian officials have not yet issued a detailed public response. The report did not specify whether Putin offered any commitment in reply.

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Modi’s appeal follows a pattern of India walking a careful line on the Ukraine conflict. New Delhi has avoided direct condemnation of Moscow’s invasion while repeatedly calling for dialogue and diplomacy. The SCO platform, which includes both Russia and China, has become a recurring venue for such sideline diplomacy.

What to watch next is whether the Kremlin issues a formal response to Modi’s remarks, and whether any follow-up talks between Indian and Russian officials emerge from the summit.