Putin's Ally Modi Tells Him To Halt 'Endless War' For Humanity's Sake

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to cease the ongoing Ukraine war for the benefit of humanity, during a meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan. Speaking on Monday, Modi emphasized that every day the war persists, humanity regresses one step forward, and urged the need to transition from endless war to an end of hostilities.

India, Russia's second-largest customer for fossil fuels since the war's initiation in February 2022, has not directly condemned Putin's actions but his remarks carry significant weight due to India's critical role as a key market for Russia. Putin responded with gratitude, stating, "we are moving forward along this path." However, ongoing U.S.-led negotiations to end the war have hit a stalemate, and analysts believe Putin is unwilling to capitulate on ending the war under his terms, specifically the surrender of Ukraine's Donbas region, a demand Kyiv finds unacceptable.

India and Kazakhstan, both Putin's allies, have been the most vocal in criticizing the war. Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who met with Putin in Omsk, called for a cessation of the conflict and the resumption of negotiations, emphasizing the possibility of freezing the situation. Meanwhile, Russian leader Putin also met with China's President Xi Jinping, where he aimed to stress Russia's collaboration with countries along the Northern Sea Route, seeking full control over it.