Modi again urges Putin to end Ukraine war ahead of BRICS summit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to enter negotiations to end the war in Ukraine ahead of the BRICS summit in New Delhi.

The Indian Foreign Ministry's statement referred to conflicts "in the Black Sea region" as the Ukraine war was on the agenda during the bilateral talks between Modi and Putin.

India, a major buyer of Russian oil and grain, has been affected by difficulties in Black Sea shipping caused by Russian and Ukrainian strikes, with Indian sailors falling victim to drone attacks.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to enter negotiations to end the war in Ukraine as the two leaders met in New Delhi ahead of the BRICS summit.

Dialogue and diplomacy are the right way to resolve conflicts, Modi told Putin, according to a statement from the Indian Foreign Ministry.

India is ready to support peace efforts, he said.

The bilateral talks came ahead of a two-day BRICS summit, beginning on Saturday.

The Ukraine war is on the agenda, with the Indian Foreign Ministry's wording referring to conflicts "in the Black Sea region."

India is a major buyer of Russian oil and grain. It has been affected by difficulties in Black Sea shipping caused by Russian and Ukrainian strikes, with Indian sailors having fallen victim to drone attacks.

New Delhi, which maintains close ties with both Western partners and Moscow, has taken a broadly pragmatic stance on the conflict since the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022.

However, Modi stepped up his rhetoric at a meeting in Kyrgyzstan in late August, urging Putin to end the fighting in front of cameras.

The path from an endless war to the end of the war must be taken, he said. Putin responded that Russia was on that path.

How direct Modi's words were at the latest meeting in New Delhi remained unclear.

Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov confirmed that Ukraine was discussed, the Russian news agency TASS reported.

Indian media did not publish any video of Modi's remarks.

The Indian statement said Modi and Putin agreed to strengthen the special strategic partnership between the two countries.

Cooperation continues to show considerable growth, they said.