Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a significant bilateral meeting on Monday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders’ summit, with peace efforts in Ukraine emerging as the central theme of their discussions.
The meeting underscored India’s diplomatic balancing act and its persistent call for constructive dialogue to end the devastating war.
Speaking to President Putin, Prime Minister Modi reiterated that the world is watching closely, hoping for concrete progress in the fragile process of peace.
“We have been continuously discussing the war in Ukraine, and we welcome the recent efforts to bring about peace,” he said, in a clear reference to the recent meeting between Putin and US President Donald Trump.
Modi stressed that “all parties must move forward constructively… There has to be a quick resolution to the war and the establishment of lasting peace. This is the call from the entire humanity.”
Strengthening Bilateral Ties Amid Global Tensions
The Modi-Putin meeting carried additional weight as it marked their first in-person interaction since Washington penalised India for continuing to buy discounted Russian oil.
Despite mounting pressure from the US, India has remained firm on its policy of strategic autonomy, with Ambassador Vinay Kumar reaffirming that Indian companies “will continue buying from wherever they get the best deal.”
In fact, Russia has publicly supported India’s position, defending New Delhi’s right to choose its trading partners and criticising Washington’s tariff action.
Both leaders appeared determined to deepen their cooperation, reinforcing the resilience of the Indo-Russian partnership despite external headwinds.
Informal Engagements and Symbolism of Unity
Modi and Putin’s warm gestures did not go unnoticed. Ahead of the SCO summit, they were seen engaging informally with each other and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the venue.
Later, the two leaders left the summit in the same car, a symbolic display of camaraderie, before proceeding to hold structured bilateral talks with senior officials.
Prime Minister Modi also confirmed that President Putin will visit India in December 2025, a move that signals continuity in high-level engagement and further strengthens the long-standing ties between the two nations.
Global Spotlight on Peace Efforts
The meeting assumes global significance not just because of Trump’s recent criticism of India’s energy trade with Russia but also due to comments by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In his conversation with Modi, Zelenskyy urged that “the end of this war must begin with an immediate ceasefire” and expressed confidence that India could play a role in nudging leaders, including Russia, towards peace.
Last week, Trump’s trade advisor Peter Navarro controversially described the Ukraine war as “Modi’s war,” arguing that “the road to peace runs, at least partly, right through New Delhi.”
While this comment was criticised in New Delhi and Moscow, it highlighted the increasing recognition of India’s influence in shaping outcomes on the global stage.
Towards Ending the War and Ushering in Normalcy
The Modi-Putin dialogue reflects the broader international effort to move away from the battlefield towards diplomacy.
Both leaders appeared aligned on the need to calm tensions, restore normalcy, and work towards a durable peace that the world urgently needs.
At a time when innocent civilians are bearing the heaviest brunt of the ongoing war, their talks in Tianjin may help lay the groundwork for de-escalation and eventual reconciliation.
By reaffirming the primacy of dialogue over confrontation, Modi and Putin sent a message that the global community’s highest priority must be to end bloodshed and rebuild trust.
For India, the effort is also about projecting itself as a responsible global power capable of bridging divides and facilitating solutions to complex conflicts.
#ModiPutinMeeting #UkraineWar #PeaceEfforts #IndiaRussia #GlobalDiplomacy #SCO2025 #StrategicAutonomy #WarAndPeace #NormalcyThroughDialogue