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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are likely to meet on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, as both nations continue to deepen their Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership during a time of global uncertainty.
The leaders will likely discuss a wide range of bilateral matters, with trade, defence, investment, and economic cooperation high on the agenda.
India has consistently stressed the importance of a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict, with PM Modi reaffirming New Delhi’s backing for international efforts aimed at restoring stability.
Notably, PM Modi’s arrival in China from Japan on Saturday coincided with a call from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, who briefed him on discussions with US President Donald Trump and European leaders in Washington.
Zelensky later confirmed that during this exchange, India had expressed its willingness to contribute to peace efforts and ‘convey the appropriate signal to Russia’ and other stakeholders at the SCO meetings.
Following the call, PM Modi stated that he had spoken with Zelensky on the humanitarian impact of the conflict and on initiatives to end hostilities.
Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “Thank President Zelenskyy for his phone call today. We exchanged views on the ongoing conflict, its humanitarian aspect, and efforts to restore peace and stability. India extends full support to all efforts in this direction.”
Earlier on 18 August, Putin had reached out to PM Modi to brief him on his talks with US President Trump in Alaska.
Earlier, the Russian President had also updated Prime Minister Modi on his meeting with Trump’s Special Envoy, Steven Witkoff, held on 6 August in Moscow.
In addition, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently hosted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Moscow for the 26th session of the Intergovernmental Russian–Indian Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, and Cultural Cooperation.
The upcoming meeting between PM Modi and President Putin comes at a sensitive moment, as Trump has announced a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, citing what he termed unfair trade practices and India’s refusal to cut imports of Russian crude oil.
Observers argue, however, that by maintaining oil trade with Russia, India has helped stabilise global markets, prevented inflationary spikes, and ensured energy supplies for itself and others.
Russia, producing nearly 9.5 million barrels of oil daily, about 10 per cent of global demand, remains the world’s second-largest producer and exporter, shipping millions of barrels of crude and refined products each day.
Experts believe India’s continued purchases of Russian crude have effectively provided economic relief to global consumers by keeping oil supplies steady and markets balanced.
President Putin will likely travel to India in December for further discussions.
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