Meeting for the first time after the United States imposed 25% additional tariffs on India for Russian oil purchase, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday underlined “bilateral cooperation, including in the economic, financial and energy sectors”.

The bilateral meeting came after a shared car ride as the two leaders left the SCO summit in Putin’s vehicle. Sources said Putin desired to travel with Modi to the hotel where the bilateral meeting was scheduled to be held, and waited for about 10 minutes for him. They spent another 45 minutes in the vehicle even after reaching the hotel, sources said. This was followed by the bilateral meeting, attended by senior officials from both sides, which went on for over an hour.

This was one of the longest meetings on the sidelines of a multilateral summit that Modi has had in his stint as the PM. “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,” Modi posted on X, with a photograph of the car ride.

Welcoming the recent efforts to bring the Ukraine war to an end, Modi told Putin that India hoped that all parties “shall proceed ahead constructively” — referring to the conversations between US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Russian President. “A way must be found to end this conflict and establish lasting peace. This is the aspiration of the entire humanity,” he said.

Modi also confirmed that Putin would be travelling to India in December this year. “We’ve been in constant touch. There have also been many high-level meetings between the two sides regularly. 140 crore Indians are eagerly waiting to welcome you for our 23rd Summit in December this year,” he said.

On the US tariffs, while the Indian statement did not address the issue directly, Modi said he discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in all sectors, including trade. And Putin said “trade and economic ties as a whole are showing positive dynamics”.

“India and Russia have always stood shoulder-to-shoulder even in the most difficult situations,” Modi said. “Our close cooperation is important not only for the people of both countries, but also for global peace, stability, and prosperity,” he said.

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His remarks come in the backdrop of the strain in ties between Delhi and Washington following Trump’s announcement of 50 per cent tariffs on India, and his administration’s daily diatribe over India’s import of Russian oil.

“On December 21, it will be 15 years since the adoption of the joint statement that marked the elevation of our relations to the level of a special, privileged, strategic partnership. It can be stated with confidence that our multifaceted Russian-Indian ties continue to develop actively on these principles,” Putin 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,” he said.

“Today we have a valuable opportunity to discuss the main tasks for further developing our multifaceted bilateral cooperation across various fields. Russia and India have maintained special friendly and trust-based relations for decades. This is the foundation for the future development of our ties. These relations are entirely above party politics and enjoy the support of the overwhelming majority of our peoples,” he said.

After the meeting, Modi posted on X: “Had an excellent meeting with President Putin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin. Discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in all sectors, including trade, fertilisers, space, security and culture. We exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. Our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership remains a vital pillar of regional and global stability.”