India ‘On the Side of Peace’, PM Modi Tells Putin Ahead of Key Summit in New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday delivered a clear message of peace ahead of his bilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Hyderabad House, asserting that India is “not neutral” on the Ukraine conflict but firmly “on the side of peace.”

“India is on the side of peace. We always support peace. We support a peaceful solution to the conflict,” Modi said before the talks began.

Putin, in response, thanked Modi for India’s continued attention to peace efforts around Ukraine. He also highlighted the depth of Russia–India ties, noting that cooperation spans defence, space, artificial intelligence, and several other strategic sectors. “We plan to move forward in all these areas,” he said.

A Crucial Summit Amid Global Push for Ukraine Talks

The 23rd India–Russia Summit comes at a significant geopolitical moment, as the U.S. pushes for a Ukraine peace deal and seeks broader international support. The meeting will test New Delhi’s diplomatic balancing act between long-standing ties with Moscow and its expanding partnership with Washington, as the nearly four-year war in Ukraine continues without resolution.

Putin’s First India Visit in Four Years

Putin is in India for a two-day state visit — his first since 2021 — on Modi’s invitation.

Earlier in the day, he laid a wreath at Rajghat, paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. He also signed the visitors’ book at the memorial and was accompanied by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh.

Before the Rajghat visit, President Droupadi Murmu and PM Modi welcomed him at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he received a ceremonial tri-services guard of honour. The forecourt resonated with the national anthems of both countries as the Russian President inspected the guard.