Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping offered to help find a solution to the Russia-Ukraine war during their meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in New Delhi, according to the Kremlin.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin welcomed the readiness of both leaders to assist in efforts to resolve the conflict and briefed them on the situation in Ukraine.

Peskov stated that during their bilateral meetings, Modi and Xi took a keen interest in the Ukraine settlement and actively offered their good offices to help find a solution. He emphasised that both leaders expressed their willingness to contribute to peace efforts.

The comments came a day after Modi and Putin held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. The Ministry of External Affairs reported that the two leaders discussed bilateral ties and exchanged views on regional and global issues, including conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region.

Modi reiterated India’s position that dialogue and diplomacy remain the way forward in resolving conflicts. He said India was ready to assist in peace efforts, maintaining New Delhi’s consistent call for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict while preserving relations with both Russia and Ukraine.

During his meeting with Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek on August 31, Modi urged the Russian leader to move from “endless war” towards an “end to the war.” This reinforced India’s stance of encouraging dialogue rather than confrontation.

India has also highlighted the wider economic impact of the conflict, particularly on energy supplies, shipping and trade. These concerns have been repeatedly raised by New Delhi in international forums, reflecting the global consequences of the prolonged war.

The Kremlin statement comes as US efforts to revive negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have failed to produce a breakthrough. US President Donald Trump has pushed for an end to the nearly five-year-old conflict and recently held talks with Putin.

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner also travelled to Moscow and Kyiv as part of efforts to restart negotiations.

Despite the renewed diplomatic push, fighting has continued, with both Russia and Ukraine reporting fresh attacks. The Kremlin’s statement does not indicate that India has launched a formal mediation initiative. Instead, New Delhi has positioned its role as one of encouraging dialogue and diplomacy.

At the BRICS summit, the New Delhi Declaration also stressed the importance of resolving conflicts through dialogue, consultation and diplomatic means. The declaration reflected the collective stance of BRICS members on prioritising peaceful solutions to global disputes.

This development underscores India’s balancing act in global diplomacy, maintaining strategic ties with Russia while also engaging with Western nations.

It also highlights China’s parallel interest in playing a role in conflict resolution, signalling a broader push by major powers within BRICS to influence the trajectory of the Ukraine war.

Agencies