The Prime Minister Clarifies New Delhi’s Stance During Bilateral Summit; Calls for Dialogue and Diplomacy

New Delhi, December 5, 2025 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his high-profile bilateral summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi today, delivered a clear message on the Ukraine conflict, stating that India is “not neutral, but firmly on the side of peace.”

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The Prime Minister’s remarks, made in his televised opening statement before the formal delegation-level talks began at Hyderabad House, underscored India’s consistent position advocating for an immediate end to the hostilities and a return to dialogue.

“We have been holding discussions following the start of the Ukraine conflict. As a close friend, you have been regularly apprising us on the situation,” Prime Minister Modi told President Putin. “I believe that trust is a major strength. The world should return to peace, and we support every effort towards peace. India is not neutral; India is on the side of peace.“

The statement reinforces India’s diplomatic balancing act, which seeks to maintain a decades-long strategic partnership with Moscow while publicly pushing for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, a position previously articulated at global forums.

Putin Appreciates India’s Peace Efforts

In his response, President Putin thanked the Indian Prime Minister for New Delhi’s proactive engagement on the issue. “We had the opportunity to speak in detail about what is happening on the Ukrainian track and about the steps we are taking jointly with some other partners… toward a possible peaceful settlement of this crisis,” President Putin stated, adding that he was “grateful for the attention India was paying to peace efforts on Ukraine.”

The Russian President reiterated that Moscow is “working on a peaceful solution to the conflict,” signaling a high-level appreciation for India’s diplomatic counsel, a stance that sets India apart from most Western nations.

Focus on Strategic Partnership and Economic Ties

While the Ukraine conflict was a key point of discussion, the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit primarily focused on strengthening the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” between the two nations. Key agenda items included:

• Defence and Security: Moving forward with the delivery of remaining S-400 surface-to-air missile systems and discussing future military-technical cooperation.

• Economic Roadmap: Adopting a Program for the Development of Strategic Areas of India-Russia Economic Cooperation until 2030, aimed at boosting trade and diversifying collaboration beyond energy and defence.

• Energy and Connectivity: Discussing stable Russian fuel supplies to India, logistics, and potential cooperation in small modular nuclear reactors.

• Mobility: Signing agreements to facilitate the mobility of skilled Indian workers and students to Russia.

President Putin, who arrived in New Delhi on a two-day state visit, was received by PM Modi in an unusually warm, personal gesture at the airport, underscoring the strong rapport between the two leaders.