Modi–Putin Ride Diplomacy: 50-Minute Tête-à-Tête in Limousine at SCO Summit
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin showcased rare diplomatic warmth at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, by continuing their conversation on the move.
According to the media reports, President Putin waited nearly 10 minutes for PM Modi to join him in his presidential car.
The two leaders then traveled together from the SCO conference venue to the site of their bilateral meeting, continuing an intense one-on-one discussion in the limousine for close to 50 minutes before deboarding. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later confirmed the tete-a-tete lasted nearly an hour. Modi shared a photo from the ride, showing him alongside President Putin inside the Russian limousine.
After the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue, President Putin and I travelled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting. Conversations with him are always insightful. pic.twitter.com/oYZVGDLxtc
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 1, 2025
The official bilateral meeting lasted over an hour, during which Modi reiterated India’s long-standing partnership with Russia, saying the two nations “stand shoulder to shoulder” during challenging times. The interaction highlighted the personal rapport between Modi and Putin, especially as tensions rise with Washington following US tariffs of up to 50% on Indian goods, effective 27 August.
Modi and Putin have remained in close contact in recent weeks, particularly over the war in Ukraine. They spoke multiple times before and after the Alaska diplomatic summit, with Modi emphasizing the need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict, now in its fourth year.
In contrast, Modi and US President Donald Trump have not spoken since June 17, when Modi underlined that it was India and Pakistan’s militaries that reached a pause in hostilities in May, without any US role.
Looking ahead, President Putin is expected in India in December for the annual bilateral summit. Modi visited Russia in 2024 and also traveled to Kyiv the same year. Ukraine is now hoping to schedule a visit by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to New Delhi, underscoring India’s careful balancing act between Moscow, Kyiv, and Western capitals since 2022.
