Russian President Vladimir Putin has been urged to end the conflict in Ukraine

Modi's comments are not surprising given India's long-standing ties with Russia and its heavy dependence on discounted oil from Moscow. However, they do suggest that India is keen to see an end to the war, which has been ongoing since 2022.

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Despite india's neutral stance conflict,

Despite India's neutral stance on the conflict, Modi's statement cannot be seen as a rebuff to Putin or Russia's strategy. Instead, it reflects India's policy of strategic autonomy, which prioritizes its own interests and relationships with other nations.

The answer to why Modi made this public statement lies in the long-standing Russia-India ties that have enabled the two countries to work together despite their differences on geopolitics. Moscow has continued to be one of India's strongest allies, supplying around 40% of its defence imports and energy needs.

However, Delhi's membership in the Quad group with Australia, Japan, and the US has caused tension with Russia, which has not been happy about this association. Despite these differences, Moscow and Delhi tend to work through them, and Modi's statement is unlikely to cause any rift in their relations.

Western countries have pushed Modi hard to take a clear stand on the war, but he has largely stayed neutral, urging dialogue to end the conflict instead. However, his latest statement will likely be seen as a rebuff

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Just five weeks ago, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev suggested Putin freeze the conflict and return to the negotiating table. However, Putin did not respond in kind, instead replying with a vague statement that suggested Russia was moving forward along its own path.

This response suggests that Russia's leadership remains convinced it is on a path to military victory in Ukraine, despite the fact that the Kremlin has yet to secure victory after over four-and-a-half years of conflict. The war continues, with recent days seeing an escalation of Russian attacks on Ukraine.