Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, with discussions ranging from the Ukraine conflict to expanding India-Russia cooperation.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the talks centred on strengthening the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two nations, while also addressing pressing global and regional issues, including the ongoing war in Ukraine.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X, “India-Russia | Bolstering the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. PM @narendramodi met President Mr. Vladimir Putin of Russia on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin, China. Both leaders discussed India-Russia bilateral ties, including in the economic, financial and energy sectors.”
The two leaders highlighted the sharp rise in bilateral trade, which touched a record USD 68.7 billion in FY 2024–25, and agreed to expand cooperation in energy, finance, and economic growth.
PM Modi reiterated India’s support for peace efforts in Ukraine, stressing the urgency of halting hostilities and pursuing a lasting settlement. He had earlier spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underlining India’s backing for initiatives to restore stability and humanitarian relief.
“We exchanged views on the ongoing conflict, its humanitarian aspects, and efforts to restore peace and stability. India extends full support to all efforts in this direction,” PM Modi wrote after his call with President Zelenskyy.
During the SCO meeting, Modi and Putin also reaffirmed their commitment to deepen strategic cooperation, with the Prime Minister conveying that he looked forward to hosting the Russian President in India later this year for the 23rd Annual Summit.
The SCO Summit, held on August 31–September 1, brought together several world leaders to deliberate on security, economic, and geopolitical challenges.