Putin and Modi Hold Unprecedented Hour-Long Conversation Inside Presidential Limousine

In a rare diplomatic gesture, Russian President Vladimir Putin waited nearly 10 minutes for Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit venue in Tianjin, China, before the two leaders departed together for their bilateral meeting.

According to reports, President Putin specifically wished to travel with PM Modi, underscoring the warmth in their relationship. As the Prime Minister arrived, the two leaders boarded Putin’s AURUS presidential limousine and drove together to the meeting venue.

During the journey, Modi and Putin engaged in extensive discussions on multiple issues of mutual concern. Remarkably, even after reaching the designated venue, the leaders remained inside the limousine for nearly 45–50 minutes, continuing their private exchange before joining their respective delegations.

In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi shared details of the unique interaction, writing: “After the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue, President Putin and I travelled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting. Conversations with him are always insightful.”

Russian broadcaster VestiFM also confirmed that the two leaders held an extended one-to-one dialogue en route to the hotel where formal talks were scheduled. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later stated that Modi and Putin’s discussion inside the limousine lasted close to an hour.

Commentators in Moscow suggested that this unusual format may have allowed the leaders to deliberate on sensitive matters “not meant for the ears of others.”

During their subsequent bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s consistent position on the Ukraine conflict, urging that “it is humanity’s call to end the conflict as soon as possible.”