Putin and Modi showcase bond with hug, car ride in China

They meet at a time when their relationship is under global scrutiny. US President Donald Trump has publicly lambasted India for buying oil from Russia, accusing New Delhi of funding Putin’s war in Ukraine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi embraced Russian President Vladimir Putin at a regional summit in China before riding with him to their bilateral meeting, underscoring their deep ties even as Washington criticizes New Delhi over oil purchases.

“President Putin and I traveled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting,” Modi said in a post on X on Monday. “Conversations with him are always insightful.”

Modi and Putin meet at a time when their relationship is under global scrutiny. US President Donald Trump has publicly lambasted India for buying oil from Russia, accusing New Delhi of funding Putin’s war in Ukraine. Last week, the Trump administration imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods bound for the US — the highest in Asia — to penalize it for those energy purchases.

Jeremy Chan, a senior analyst on the China and Northeast Asia team at Eurasia Group, said the meeting between Putin and Modi may not result in any “major deliverables” but “there will be continued expressions of unity from both sides and no sign that Delhi will reduce its purchases of Russian oil.”

New Delhi has defended its ties with Moscow, calling Trump’s actions “unfair,” and has given no sign it will scale back purchases. The chairman of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, India’s largest explorer, said last week its refineries would buy “every drop of Russian crude” as long as it remains economical.

Modi also spoke with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy ahead of his trip to China, reiterating his call for peace. Zelenskiy said India was ready to “deliver the appropriate signal to Russia and other leaders” during Modi’s meetings in Tianjin. Modi last spoke with Putin after the Russian leader’s summit with Trump in Alaska to seek a peace deal. Putin is expected to visit India later this year.

Both the leaders had addressed a gathering at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin on Monday before leaving for their bilateral meeting. Earlier in the day, Modi posted a photo of himself hugging the Russian leader, saying it is “always a delight to meet President Putin.”

Modi also met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the summit, their first talks since Trump’s return to power. In the closely watched meeting, the two leaders pledged to be partners rather than rivals and announced steps to rebuild ties, including the resumption of direct flights between the two countries.