Tianjin: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first bilateral meeting since Washington imposed steep tariffs on India over Russian oil imports, using the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin as a platform to reaffirm ties and discuss the war in Ukraine.

The two leaders, who even shared a car ride from the summit venue before talks, reviewed trade and energy cooperation while also addressing global tensions. Modi reiterated India’s position of “strategic autonomy,” stressing that New Delhi would continue to prioritise affordable and secure energy supplies for its citizens.