Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, on Monday. During his speech, he is outlining India’s vision for regional cooperation under the SCO.

On Sunday, Foreign Secretary Misri explained the schedule. He said, “Prime Minister will be addressing the plenary session of the Summit, where he will outline India’s approach to fostering regional cooperation under the SCO umbrella. After this engagement, he is scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, following which he will depart for India.”

Modi to meet Putin

On the second day of the summit, Modi will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their meeting comes at a sensitive moment, as India faces growing pressure from the United States over its close ties with Russia.

Earlier, Modi held bilateral talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Myanmar’s Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. In addition, he held brief discussions with leaders of Vietnam, Tajikistan, Egypt, Maldives, and Armenia.

US tariffs heighten pressure

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has imposed a 50 percent tariff on India. This includes 25 percent as part of a broader rollout affecting more than 60 countries, and another 25 percent as punishment for India’s purchase of Russian oil. Furthermore, Trump accused India of “driving the Russian war on Ukraine.”

However, India has continued to engage with Moscow. Earlier this month, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Russia and met Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Moreover, the Kremlin confirmed that Putin will travel to India later this year for a summit with Modi.

Modi speaks with Zelenskyy

Ahead of his meeting with Putin, Modi also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday. During the call, Zelenskyy suggested that India could play a mediating role.

He said, “It is impossible to speak meaningfully about peace while our cities and communities are under constant fire. India is ready to make the necessary efforts and to deliver the appropriate signal to Russia and other leaders during the meetings on the sidelines of the summit.”

Talks shaped by Ukraine war

Therefore, the Modi-Putin talks will take place as Trump’s efforts to secure peace in Ukraine falter. Russian strikes have not stopped, and Moscow has rejected talks with Zelenskyy while sticking to demands that Ukraine cannot accept.

As a result, the upcoming Modi-Putin meeting will be closely watched, since it carries both bilateral importance and global significance.