Modi demands Putin to end the war: "Every day it continues, humanity takes a step back"

MoscowThe escalation in the Ukraine conflict is not pleasing to Russia's partners. The latest to make this known to Vladimir Putin has been the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. Both met in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, within the framework of the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which also hosted a meeting between the Russian and Chinese presidents, Xi Jinping. The Indian leader warned Putin that “every day the war continues, humanity takes a step back” and demanded that he “move from an interminable war to the end of hostilities as soon as possible”. He also assured that New Delhi supports all peace efforts and will continue to do so in the future.

Putin responded with a concise “Thank you, Prime Minister, we are moving forward on this path”, and dedicated himself to praising the strength of economic relations between the two countries. After the meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov stated that Russia views with “satisfaction” the efforts of any country to help resolve “the Ukrainian crisis”. At the same time, however, he made it clear that it is Kyiv’s fault that negotiations are stalled. “They are not yet willing to succumb to the influence of mediators in matters of conflict resolution”, he said.

As usual, Xi Jinping publicly avoided any allusion to the war. The Chinese leader celebrated that, amid a global rise in “uncertainty and unpredictability”, China and Russia’s desire “for peace” remains unchanged. According to Xi, the SCO has the mission to “maintain stability and promote development” in the Eurasian region. Beijing and Moscow are trying to use this platform, created in 1996 and of which ten countries are members, to oppose their vision of a multipolar world to Western hegemony.

The Kremlin highlighted that, during the part of the meeting closed to the media, both heads of state only addressed the Ukraine conflict in a very “superficial” manner. However, the fact that Xi Jinping did not pressure Putin in front of the cameras does not mean that he does not share Modi’s concern and that he does not use intermediaries to convey it to him. A few weeks ago, it was the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who, after visiting Beijing, reprimanded his Russian counterpart in a very unusual gesture.

Tokayev told Putin that perhaps the time had come to “freeze” the conflict. He also commented that no one understood the origins of the confrontation and denied that it was a civil war, as the Kremlin maintains when defending national unity between Russia and Ukraine. No international leader had ever dared to lecture the Russian president on this issue face to face and in public. Furthermore, the Kazakh leader insisted greatly on the fact that he was conveying the unease of the great powers. “I will not hide that I am receiving many signals,” he pointed out.

Turkey wants a truce in the Black Sea

This Monday, Putin and Tokayev spoke in Bishkek for the first time after the tense exchange, but they avoided further controversy in front of journalists. On Tuesday, the Kremlin leader will also meet with the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who will presumably insist on the need for a ceasefire in Ukraine. His Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, who mediated the talks between Kyiv and Moscow in Istanbul in 2025, explained that they have a plan to facilitate a truce in the Black Sea. Their intention is to re-edit the agreement that at the beginning of the war allowed the safe export of Russian and Ukrainian grain. However, so far Russia has dismissed any kind of pact at a time of increased attacks by both sides in these waters.

Another uncomfortable meeting awaits Putin on Tuesday with the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan. The Kremlin is annoyed with the direction of the Armenian government, which intends to approach Europe without cutting ties with Russia. Moscow, which has increased economic pressure on Yerevan, wants Pashinyan to submit this issue to a referendum, but the Armenian leader considers it premature.