New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 31 met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, where the two leaders discussed the India-Russia strategic partnership as well as major global and regional conflicts.
During the meeting, PM Modi emphasised the need for an end to prolonged conflicts, stating that the world must move from “endless war” towards an “end of war” in the larger interest of humanity. He reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy remain the way forward for resolving conflicts.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two leaders exchanged views on conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region. The situation has also affected maritime trade and the safety of Indian seafarers, with Indian mariners facing attacks in the conflict-hit Black Sea region.
PM Modi and Putin also reviewed the progress of the India-Russia “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership”. Key areas of cooperation include energy, innovation, space, fertilisers and people-to-people ties.
The upcoming 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 12-13, also featured prominently in the discussions. PM Modi said he looked forward to welcoming President Putin to India for the summit.
Putin highlighted the expanding people-to-people ties between the two countries, noting that around 40,000 Indian students are currently studying in Russia, nearly seven times the number recorded a decade ago. He also pointed to growing economic and tourism exchanges, with bilateral trade reportedly increasing by more than 2% and tourist exchanges rising by 16% in 2025.
The meeting comes ahead of the 80th anniversary of India-Russia diplomatic relations, underscoring the enduring nature of the bilateral partnership.
