Putin holds bilateral talks with 'dear friend' PM Modi, stresses strong ties amid Trump’s Russia oil penalty

At a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the SCO Summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his “dear friend,” saying the bilateral relationship is developing dynamically.

Modi said India-Russia cooperation is crucial not just for the two nations but for global peace and security. Echoing the sentiment, Putin described the meeting as a “significant boost” for India-Russia ties, calling the relationship “very good.”

“We have continuously been discussing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The conflict must be ended as soon as possible, and a path to lasting peace must be found quickly,” Putin said. He added that Russia and India share a very trustworthy relationship — one that is not based on politics.

PM Modi noted that the two countries had moved forward together even in the “toughest of circumstances” and told Putin that 140 crore Indians are eagerly awaiting his visit to India later this year. He also expressed hope that Russia and Ukraine would soon find a way to end their war.

“Dear friend, 21 December will mark 15 years since we achieved our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. I can say with confidence that our relationship is principle-based and has multidimensional cooperation,” Putin said in his opening remarks.

The meeting comes amid challenges posed by US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, imposed on India in connection with its Russian oil purchases.

Meanwhile, as PM Modi engaged with both the Chinese and Russian presidents in Tianjin, the United States highlighted that its partnership with New Delhi “continues to reach new heights.” In a post on X on Monday, the US Embassy, citing Secretary of State Marco Rubio, described the ties between India and the US as a “defining relationship.”