Why did Modi urge Putin to end Ukraine war - and will he listen?
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Analysts suggest this move aligns with India's policy of strategic autonomy rather than a shift in foreign policy.
Why it matters
India's diplomatic stance is critical due to its economic ties with Russia and its growing influence as a global power balancing Western and Russian interests.
Figure caption, Watch: Modi tells Putin "move on from an endless war to an end of war"
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been urged by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a close ally, to end Moscow's war against Ukraine.
"Every day spent in war pushes humanity back, and every step taken towards peace fills humanity with new hope and enthusiasm," Modi said on Monday.
Modi, whose country's economy depends heavily on discounted oil from Moscow, has made several similar pleas to Putin since he launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
BBC correspondents in Delhi and Moscow look at what lies behind Modi's renewed appeal for peace, and Putin's response.
Modi's comments on ending the war in Ukraine are not surprising and don't suggest any tactical change in India's foreign policy.
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