Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – August 31: Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on August 31, 2026.
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit and called on Russia to end the war in Ukraine and cease hostilities.
“India supports all peace efforts in the region (Ukraine war) and will continue to do so,” PM Modi said, adding, “We must move from endless wars to an end to wars and cessation of hostilities.”
“Every day that war continues, humanity takes a step backwards,” Modi said.
On Monday, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced it was planning a “large-scale attack” on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, days after launching a devastating attack on an ammunition depot, again fueling fears of a winter attack.
The Russian attack on the warehouse was one of the deadliest to date in Ukraine, leaving 38 people dead. Russia’s winter attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure pose Kiev’s toughest challenge of the war so far, according to officials and national security experts.
Meanwhile, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to pass a bill praising Lindsey Graham later this month that would impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five buyers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India.
Russia is India’s largest oil supplier, accounting for more than 50% of the country’s oil imports in June and July and nearly 43% through August 24. Russia’s exports to India amounted to more than $34 billion between April and July, an increase of nearly 60% year-on-year, according to India’s latest trade data.
During his meeting with Prime Minister Modi, President Putin praised the growth in bilateral trade between the two countries, but added that “last year saw a slight decline.”
In August 2025, US President Donald Trump imposed a 25% punitive tariff on India’s energy trade with Russia, bringing the total surcharge on India’s exports to the US to 50%.
Tariffs on India were lowered to 18% earlier this year, but the US is keen to increase India’s supply of Venezuelan crude to replace Russian barrels.
