Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to work towards ending the Ukraine war during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. Hours later, Russia launched a massive aerial assault across Ukraine, involving 218 drones and missiles, according to Ukrainian authorities. At least 12 people were killed, including an Indian national, while more than a dozen others were wounded, including three children. The attack comes as India-Russia ties remain strong, with trade, energy and defence cooperation continuing to deepen.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek, with the two leaders sharing a warm hug before crucial bilateral talks. Trade, investment, energy and defence cooperation were key areas of discussion, while the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war also remained central to the meeting. Modi reiterated India's position that dialogue and diplomacy are the way forward and urged an end to hostilities, highlighting the wider consequences of prolonged conflict.