---
title: "“From endless war to ending war”: Modi calls on Putin for peace at SCO summit in Bishkek"
description: "At the SCO summit in Bishkek, Modi told Putin that the world must “move from endless war to ending war.” The statement came against the backdrop of India’s diplomatic protests and reduced imports of Russian oil."
date: 2026-08-31T15:32:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/modi-calls-on-putin-to-end-endless-war-sco-bishkek
tags: [modi, putin, sco-summit, india-russia, bishkek, shos, diplomacy, oil-imports]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# “From endless war to ending war”: Modi calls on Putin for peace at SCO summit in Bishkek

![Indian PM Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands against national flags amid Modi's call for peace at the SCO summit in Bishkek](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/31/modi-prizval-putina-prekratit-beskonechnuyu-voynu-shos-bishkek/modi-prizval-putina-prekratit-beskonechnuyu-voynu-shos-bishkek-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- On the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek, Modi called on Putin to “move from endless war to ending war”
- The statement came against the backdrop of India’s diplomatic protests over incidents involving the vessels MV Golden Leo and MV OMORFI
- Indian refineries are cutting imports of Russian oil due to disruptions in export supplies
- Within ten days, Russia received diplomatic protests from three countries

On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a resonant statement during a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling on the international community to “move from endless war to ending war.” According to the Indian leader, every day spent in a state of armed conflict “pushes humanity back,” while every step toward peace fills it with “new hope and new enthusiasm.” Modi emphasized that all disputed issues must be resolved peacefully as soon as possible, calling this a “call of humanity.”

### Context of the meeting: SCO summit in Bishkek

The bilateral contact between Modi and Putin took place during the first day of the SCO sessions in the capital of Kyrgyzstan. According to reports from Russian and Ukrainian media, on the same day the Russian leader also held meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The SCO summit format traditionally involves a series of bilateral talks on the sidelines of the main session, allowing the parties to discuss both multilateral and bilateral issues. The meeting between the Indian and Russian leaders took place against the backdrop of growing diplomatic pressure on Moscow from several states.

### India against the backdrop of diplomatic moves

Modi’s statement came in the context of a series of diplomatic incidents that, over the past ten days, have led Russia to face official protests from three countries at once. In particular, New Delhi expressed a firm protest over a Russian missile strike on the cargo ship MV Golden Leo near the port of Odesa, which killed four Indian citizens. In addition, the Indian side had earlier sent an official diplomatic request to the Ukrainian side regarding the death of an Indian citizen aboard the merchant vessel MV OMORFI. These events significantly affected the tone of India’s diplomatic rhetoric toward Moscow.

### Economic factor: reduced imports of Russian oil

In parallel with the diplomatic moves, Indian refineries have been forced to cut imports of Russian oil from previously elevated levels. According to RBC-Ukraine, the main reason was Ukraine’s successful strikes on Russian infrastructure, which significantly disrupted export supplies. This creates additional economic pressure on Indo-Russian trade relations and forms an additional context for Modi’s statements on the international stage.

### Contradictory data

The provided materials mention two merchant vessels — MV OMORFI and MV Golden Leo — in connection with which the Indian side took diplomatic steps. In one episode (MV OMORFI), New Delhi made an official demand to the Ukrainian side, while in the second (MV Golden Leo) the protest was directed at Russia over a missile strike near Odesa. The sources do not clarify whether these are two separate incidents or a single event described with different vessel names. Clarifying the details remains an open question, as the original source contains no additional explanations regarding this discrepancy.

### Significance of the statement for Indian foreign policy

Modi’s rhetoric at the SCO summit reflects India’s attempt to take the position of a “mediator” and moral arbiter on the international stage, drawing on the historical legacy of non-violence — the reference to “the land of Gandhi and the land of the Buddha” in the Indian Prime Minister’s public speeches carries precisely this character. However, in practice, New Delhi continues to maintain economic ties with Moscow, including in the energy sector, which creates a certain dissonance between the declared position and the actual steps. The statement, against the backdrop of reduced oil imports and a series of diplomatic protests, may indicate a gradual reassessment of India’s course toward a harder stance toward the Russian leadership.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Modi calls on Putin to end the “endless war”](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/modi-zaklikav-putina-pripiniti-neskinchennu-1788189911.html) - Основной источник цитат Моди и контекста по нефтяному импорту и дипломатическим инцидентам
- [Putin and Modi begin talks in Bishkek on the sidelines of the SCO summit](https://www.mk.ru/politics/2026/08/31/putin-i-modi-nachali-peregovory-v-bishkeke-na-polyakh-sammita-shos.html) - Подтверждает факт и формат двусторонней встречи на саммите ШОС в Бишкеке 31.08.2026
- [First day of the SCO summit: Putin’s meetings with Xi, Aliyev and Modi — details](https://news.ru/world/pervyj-den-sammita-shos-vstrechi-putina-s-si-alievym-i-modi-podrobnosti) - Подтверждает программу первого дня саммита и серию двусторонних контактов Путина
- [SCO summit in Bishkek: Putin holds meetings with Xi and Modi](https://vfokuse.mail.ru/articles/69639392-sammit-shos-v-bishkeke-putin-provel-vstrechi-s-si-i-modi/) - Дополнительное подтверждение факта встреч на саммите ШОС

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Where and when did Modi make the statement on ending the war?
**A:** The statement was made on 31 August 2026 in Bishkek, on the sidelines of the SCO summit, during a bilateral meeting with Vladimir Putin.

### Q: What exactly did Modi say to Putin?
**A:** Modi stated: “We must move from endless war to ending war,” adding that every day of war pushes humanity back, while every step toward peace fills it with new hope. He called for all issues to be resolved peacefully.

### Q: What diplomatic incidents preceded Modi’s statement?
**A:** India expressed a protest over a missile strike on the cargo ship MV Golden Leo near Odesa (four Indians were killed) and sent a diplomatic request regarding the death of an Indian citizen aboard the vessel MV OMORFI. Within ten days, Russia received protests from three countries.

### Q: How is Modi’s statement connected to India’s reduced imports of Russian oil?
**A:** Indian refineries are cutting imports of Russian oil due to disruptions in export supplies caused by strikes on Russian infrastructure. This creates an economic context for harder rhetoric from New Delhi.