During a recent summit in China, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had what he called an “insightful” conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their discussion went on for 45 minutes inside Putin’s car, a setting that seems to have created a relaxed atmosphere for open dialogue.
After their meeting, Modi took to social media to share a photograph, praising Putin in his post.
According to Putin’s spokesperson, the two leaders appeared very comfortable during their time together, highlighting their chemistry. This interaction occurred after a public display of camaraderie earlier at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, hosted by China’s Xi Jinping. The summit has been interpreted as a sign of strengthening alliances against U.S. dominance fueled by President Donald Trump’s policies.
In the backdrop of their meeting, Trump placed significant tariffs on Indian imports, reportedly to penalize India for its purchase of Russian oil and military supplies. With tariffs reaching a staggering 50%, including a 25% penalty for dealings with Russia, India remains seemingly undeterred in continuing these transactions.
Even with the United States recently being India’s leading trade partner, it’s apparent that India is steadfast in its diplomatic and trade agenda despite Trump’s threats regarding trade regulations.
Moreover, Trump is navigating pressure to initiate peace talks between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodyr Zelensky, which Putin seems to be disregarding. Speaking to attendees at the summit, Putin expressed gratitude to both Indian and Chinese leaders for their support addressing the ongoing Ukrainian crisis.
Putin noted that discussions held with Trump in Alaska last month might pave the way toward resolving the conflict in Ukraine. To put this situation in perspective, Putin initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine back in February 2022, and tensions have continued to escalate since then.
On August 22, Trump publicized his demand for a timely response from Putin regarding peace talks, establishing yet another ultimatum in a long series that have been largely ignored by the Russian president. Trump’s previous claims suggested he could resolve the fallout from the Ukraine conflict quickly, potentially within a day.
