Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a strong message for peace to Russian President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on August 31. Modi said India has consistently discussed the Russia-Ukraine conflict with Putin and continues to support efforts aimed at bringing peace. He stressed that the longer a war continues, the more it harms humanity and slows progress around the world. According to Modi, every day spent in war takes humanity backward. In contrast, every move toward peace creates new hope and enthusiasm for people. He said the world should not accept a situation where war continues without an end. “We must move away from endless war towards an end to the war,” Modi said, emphasizing that ending conflict is important not only for the countries directly involved but for the welfare of humanity as a whole. Modi also called for all outstanding issues to be resolved peacefully and as quickly as possible. He presented this as India's broader message to the international community: dialogue and diplomacy should be used instead of continued fighting. The Indian prime minister linked his message to India's historical traditions of non-violence and peace. He said India is the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Buddha, two figures strongly associated with peace, compassion and non-violence. According to Modi, both traditions carry the same basic message: the path to peace. The meeting took place as India and Russia continue to maintain close relations in areas including trade, energy and strategic cooperation. Putin said the relationship between the two countries continues to strengthen on the basis of their special and privileged partnership. Modi's comments show India's continuing effort to encourage a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict while maintaining its long-standing relationship with Moscow. His latest appeal focuses on negotiations, diplomacy and ending the cycle of war. For India, the message is clear: "war should not be endless, and peace should remain the ultimate goal".