Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday in Tianjin, China, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, against a backdrop of increasing pressure from the United States concerning India's continued trade relations with Russia. The meeting saw a reaffirmation of the "special and privileged strategic partnership" between India and Russia, with discussions focusing on the Ukraine conflict and strengthening bilateral cooperation across various sectors.
The leaders engaged in informal talks for approximately 45 minutes before their formal meeting, even sharing a ride in Putin's armored limousine from the summit venue. Sources indicated that Putin personally waited for Modi so they could travel together, with the conversation continuing for nearly an hour within the vehicle, which commentators suggested involved sensitive matters. Following these informal discussions, the two leaders proceeded with a bilateral meeting that lasted over an hour.
Modi conveyed to Putin that "humanity wants an end" to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, emphasizing the need to find a way to establish lasting peace. He welcomed recent efforts aimed at resolving the conflict peacefully and expressed hope that all involved parties would engage constructively. Modi has consistently maintained that dialogue and diplomacy are the paths to resolving the conflict. He also told Putin that India and Russia have always "stood shoulder to shoulder" in difficult times and that their close cooperation is vital for global peace and stability. Putin, in turn, addressed Modi as a "dear friend" and emphasized the special, friendly, and trusting nature of Moscow's ties with New Delhi. He also said that Russia values the efforts of India, China, and other strategic partners in facilitating a settlement to the Ukraine crisis.
The meeting occurred in the context of strained ties between India and the U.S., stemming from India's continued purchase of Russian oil and Washington's imposition of a 25% penalty on Indian goods, in addition to existing tariffs, due to the oil trade. Despite the U.S. pressure, India has asserted its strategic autonomy, with officials emphasizing that their foreign policy is guided by national interests. India has also pointed out that other countries, including China and European nations, have been purchasing Russian oil.
On the topic of Ukraine, Putin stated that the eastward expansion of NATO should be addressed for sustainable peace and that the crisis was a result of a coup in Ukraine that was supported by the West and the West's attempts to draw Ukraine into NATO. Modi also had a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prior to the SCO summit, where he reiterated India's commitment to supporting a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Zelenskyy urged Modi to send an "appropriate signal" to Russia.
Looking ahead, Putin is scheduled to visit India in December for the 23rd India-Russia summit. Modi stated that 1.4 billion Indians are eagerly awaiting Putin's arrival, highlighting the depth of the "special and privileged partnership" between the two countries. While bilateral trade between India and Russia has reached record levels, driven by India's increased purchase of Russian oil, there are concerns about the trade imbalance, with India's exports to Russia remaining relatively low.
