Modi calls for end to war in Ukraine at meeting with Putin

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled together in the same vehicle as they arrived at the opening of the sixth World Nomad Games in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. This car journey followed a bilateral meeting between the two leaders during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. This is not the first time they have traveled together; they also did so at the last SCO Summit in Tianjin, China, last year.

President Putin had previously praised Prime Minister Modi for his attention to India-Russia relations during his visit to India in December of the previous year.

Before the SCO Summit, Prime Minister Modi met with President Putin to discuss bilateral relations. During the meeting, President Putin expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for his personal attention to the Russia-India relationship. Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to President Putin for the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi, stating that the visit would further strengthen India-Russia relations.

President Putin responded to Prime Minister Modi's remarks, expressing his gratitude for India's consistent diplomatic engagement. The leaders were seen sharing a hug and a handshake upon their meeting. Upon arriving in Tashkent, Prime Minister Modi was greeted by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who welcomed him with the country's state anthem.

The two leaders traveled together by car from the airport to the presidential palace, where they held a dinner meeting. Images shared on social media showed the two leaders sharing a hug. This trend of "car diplomacy" gained prominence following the PM Modi-Putin car ride at the SCO Summit in Tianjin in 2025.