Comments on Ukraine carry a message for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) allies, who are hosting Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky for a conference in Washington DC on Tuesday, according to Indian veterans.
He added that the message was addressed to both West and Russia at the same time. While Putin has acknowledged it and thanked India for its efforts, the expert, however, cautioned that the West might not interpret Prime Minister's words the same way as the Indian leader was intending it.
The geopolitical pundit pointed out that history was repleted with examples of front line victories not resulting in everlasting peace, underscoring that a political settlement has remained the final arbiter of conflicts.
He echoed Modi's statement –"Battlefield solutions don't work sometimes," – made during his bilateral talks with Russian President at the Kremlin on Tuesday.
"As a friend, I've always iterated that for a brighter future for our posterities peace is paramount. However, I'm aware that on the battlefield solutions don't work sometimes. Among ammunitions, solution and peace dialogues do not become successful, and we need to find solutions through dialogues, nonetheless," Modi said.
Experts view Modi's remarks as representation of his "multi-aligned" foreign policy approach, as the South Asian power seeks to strike a balancing act between India's ties with traditional friend Russia and its growing ties with West.
Despite efforts by India and other states to settle the crisis, Matheswaran said that third nations' leaders could only do as much as it was up to Russia and Ukraine to enter into direct talks to resolve the conflict.
He recalled that Russia has extended peace overtures to Ukraine at several occasions since the outbreak of conflict in 2022, but these offers have been rejected at behest of Western powers.
Meanwhile, Indian Army veteran Major General (retired) Harsha Kakar told Sputnik India that the global community was more or less aware that Modi favoured a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict.
"The Indian PM could only suggest and recommend... The implementation is up to Russia and Ukraine," Kakar remarked.
Further, he criticised Zelenksy for his statement against PM Modi earlier in the day.