In a move that has drawn global attention, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were seen traveling in the same car on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China. Reports said that Putin waited for 10 minutes for PM Modi to join him before they boarded the vehicle together.

The photo of the two leaders traveling together was shared by PM Modi on 'X', who described their discussions as meaningful. He said, "After the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue, President Putin and I travelled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting." He also added that conversations with Putin "are always insightful."

Days after the photo went viral, Putin revealed that during their talks, the two leaders discussed his recent visit to Alaska, where he met US President Donald Trump to explore ways to end the conflict in Ukraine. "This is no secret; I told him (Modi) what we talked about in Alaska," Putin told reporters during a press conference in China.

On Monday, PM Modi and Putin held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the SCO Summit, following the US decision to impose 50 per cent tariffs on India for buying Russian crude oil. During the meeting, PM Modi said that India and Russia stood "shoulder-to-shoulder" even in the most difficult times.

He also emphasized India’s position on the Ukraine conflict, stating, "We've been having regular discussions on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. We welcome all the recent efforts towards establishing peace. 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 entirety of humanity."

The joint travel and subsequent bilateral talks underscore the close diplomatic ties between India and Russia, as both nations navigate global pressures and ongoing geopolitical challenges. The meeting highlights India’s continued engagement with Russia while also signalling support for international efforts to bring peace to conflict zones like Ukraine.

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