Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed the enduring strength of India-Russia relations during his bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
Highlighting the deep-rooted partnership, PM Modi said, “India and Russia have always stood shoulder to shoulder even in the most difficult situations. Our close cooperation is important not only for the people of both countries but also for global peace, stability and prosperity.”
The meeting comes against the backdrop of the United States imposing a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, including a 25 per cent penalty linked to India’s purchase of discounted Russian crude oil.
On the Ukraine conflict, PM Modi welcomed ongoing peace efforts and stressed the urgent need for dialogue. “We have been continuously discussing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. We welcome all the recent efforts for peace. A way has to be found to end the conflict as soon as possible and establish lasting peace. This is the call of the entire humanity,” he said.
Reaffirming personal warmth in bilateral relations, PM Modi noted the frequent high-level interactions between the two nations and said Indians are eagerly awaiting President Putin’s scheduled visit to New Delhi in December for the 23rd annual summit. “140 crore Indians are eagerly waiting for you. This reflects the depth and breadth of the special and privileged partnership,” he added.
President Putin, meanwhile, lauded India and China’s peace efforts, while criticising Ukraine’s Western allies for what he termed as their role in supporting the “coup d’état in Kyiv” that triggered the crisis.
Separately, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged SCO members to uphold fairness and justice and reject Cold War-era mentalities.
The SCO Summit 2025 underscored the growing importance of multipolarity in global governance, amid shifting global alliances and challenges.
