Bishkek, August 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday traveled together in the same car to the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games at Bishkek Arena, underscoring the warm camaraderie between the two leaders.
The two leaders shared the ride shortly after concluding their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in the Kyrgyz capital.
The gesture brought back memories of their interaction at the SCO Leaders' Summit in Tianjin, China, last September, when Modi and Putin had similarly traveled together in the same car to the venue of their bilateral meeting.
The repeated display of bonhomie has been described by analysts as part of Modi's “car diplomacy” and has attracted considerable attention on social media.
During their bilateral meeting earlier on Monday, Modi reiterated India's support for all efforts aimed at establishing peace in Ukraine. He said humanity must move from an “endless war” towards an end to the conflict.
“Every day spent in war pushes humanity backwards, while every step taken towards peace fills humanity with a new hope and enthusiasm,” Modi said, stressing that all issues should be resolved peacefully and at the earliest.
Referring to India's civilizational ethos, Modi said the “land of Gandhi and the land of Buddha” carries a message of following the path of peace.
The Prime Minister also said India was looking forward to welcoming Putin and the Russian delegation for the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
The meeting followed External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's August 24 visit to Moscow, where he met Putin and handed over a personal message from Modi. Jaishankar also briefed the Russian President on discussions held under the 27th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation.
Putin, during that meeting, highlighted the longstanding India-Russia relationship and said bilateral trade had increased this year. He also expressed his expectation of meeting Modi again.
India and Russia continue to cooperate across several sectors, including energy, fertilisers, nuclear power and high-technology areas.