Why did Modi urge Putin to end Ukraine war - and will he listen?

What the report says

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to move toward ending the war in Ukraine during talks reported by BBC World News. Modi said that every day of fighting pushes humanity backward and that peace offers hope, echoing earlier remarks he has made since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The BBC said the appeal came as India continues to maintain close ties with Moscow while also working with Western partners.

The reporting says Modi’s comments do not signal a major shift in India’s foreign policy. India has generally avoided taking sides on the conflict, instead calling for dialogue. At the same time, the country has important strategic and economic links with Russia, including large imports of discounted Russian oil and significant reliance on Russian defence equipment. Those ties help explain why Delhi continues to engage Moscow even as it deepens cooperation with the US, Europe and other partners.

From Moscow, the BBC noted that Putin’s response was brief and non-committal. He thanked Modi and said Russia was “moving forward” on the issue, but gave no indication of changing course. The BBC’s Russia editor said there is little evidence that such public appeals are altering Kremlin calculations. The broader context is that fighting in Ukraine continues, while Russia has recently intensified strikes and Ukraine has kept up pressure through attacks on Russian infrastructure.