India and Russia on Monday reiterated their determination to deepen their strategic alliance, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi informing President Vladimir Putin that the two countries have ever been "shoulder-to-shoulder" in trying moments.
Their encounter took place amid New Delhi-Washington tensions after the United States doubled tariffs on Indian exports to 50 percent, including a 25 percent surcharge related to India's procurement of Russian crude oil.
The two leaders had talks during the sidelines of the SCO summit, regarding economic, financial, and energy cooperation, as per an Indian official readout.
While speaking on live television, Modi informed Putin that 1.4 billion Indians were waiting to welcome him to India later this year. "This is a reflection of the depth and scope of our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. India and Russia have always stood shoulder-to-shoulder even in the most difficult situations," he said. The prime minister underlined that intensified cooperation is not only beneficial to the people of both countries but also for the peace, stability, and prosperity of the world.
Before their formal meeting, Modi and Putin arrived at the venue together in the same vehicle after concluding their SCO summit activities. According to sources, Putin held up for about ten minutes for Modi before they departed, and the two leaders continued discussing for another 45 minutes inside the vehicle even after they had reached the venue.
Referring to the war in Ukraine, Modi stated that India supported all recent efforts towards peace and emphasized the need to put an end to it. "We've been having regular discussions on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. We welcome all the recent efforts towards establishing peace," Modi said.
"We hope that all parties shall proceed ahead constructively. A way must be found to end this conflict and establish lasting peace. This is the aspiration of the entire humanity," he added.
Indian officials also briefed Putin on Modi’s recent phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had said that India was prepared to make efforts and send “the appropriate signal” to Moscow. The Indian readout noted that Modi reiterated support for initiatives aimed at ending the war and underlined the need for a “durable peace” settlement.
Putin himself emphasized the long-standing character of Russian-Indian relationships. "These relations are purely above party politics and have the support of the vast majority of our peoples," he declared, noting the trust-based friendship that has informed relationships for decades.
Energy, fertilizers, and commerce were some of the main sectors that featured during their bilateral talks. No public announcement was made regarding Washington's tariff action, but it is understood that the issue was raised during the leaders' informal conversations in the vehicle.
India-U.S. tensions have intensified after former President Donald Trump decided to levy the drastic tariff hike, with added criticism coming from members of his administration.
Following the meeting, Modi called his exchange with Putin "excellent" in an X post, stating that they discussed means to broaden cooperation in areas from space and security to culture and trade. "We discussed regional and international developments, including the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine. Our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership is a fundamental cornerstone of regional and international stability," he added. Modi also posted a picture with Putin in the vehicle, saying, "Following the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue, President Putin and I commuted together to the site of our bilateral meeting. Discussions with him are always enriching."
Since Western sanctions on Moscow were imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India has emerged as a major buyer of discounted Russian oil. The Indian readout noted that both leaders welcomed the steady growth of bilateral cooperation across economic, financial, and energy sectors and reaffirmed their intent to further strengthen their strategic partnership.
"It can be stated with confidence that our multifaceted Russian-Indian ties continue to develop actively on these principles," he said.
"We have established multi-level cooperation. Trade and economic ties as a whole are showing positive dynamics. Tourist exchanges are growing. We are working in close coordination on the international stage – at the UN, BRICS, the G20, and, of course, the SCO."
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