Putin Expects to Meet PM Modi at SCO Summit, Pledges Fertiliser Boost

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his expectation of meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, while calling for enhanced trade and economic collaboration between the two countries.

During a meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the Kremlin on Monday, Putin highlighted the recovery of trade turnover between Russia and India after a decline in the previous year. He requested the minister to convey his warm regards to the prime minister and said he looked forward to seeing him at the SCO summit.

"I would like to ask you to convey my very best wishes to Mr. Modi. I hope to see him in the near future, as we planned, during the work of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Our schedule is such that we will probably be able to meet once again this year," Putin told Jaishankar.

Jaishankar, in response, noted the significant growth in economic cooperation between the two nations and said Modi was looking forward to meeting Putin at the SCO summit. He also extended an invitation for Putin to attend the BRICS summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi next month.

The SCO summit is scheduled to take place in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on August 31 and September 1. The 18th BRICS summit is scheduled for September 12-13 in New Delhi. The BRICS grouping includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, in addition to new members Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.

Putin also assured that Russia would increase the supply of fertilisers to India, a move that could help address agricultural input requirements in the country.

The relationship between Russia and India has deep roots, dating back to the Cold War era. The then-Soviet Union provided military support and arms to India, which was a leader of the non-aligned movement, even as the United States maintained close ties with neighbouring Pakistan.

In recent years, India has balanced its relations between Western nations and Russia. While India has not joined the Western sanctions against Russia over its ongoing conflict with Ukraine, it has called for a diplomatic resolution to the war and has increased purchases of discounted Russian crude oil, which has helped temper global energy prices.

Trade between the two countries has seen a notable upswing, driven largely by energy imports. According to official data, bilateral trade volumes have expanded significantly, with India emerging as a major buyer of Russian oil and coal. Both sides have also explored ways to expand cooperation in areas such as defence, space, and nuclear energy.

Jaishankar's visit to Moscow is part of a series of high-level exchanges between the two nations, underscoring the continuity of their strategic partnership. The upcoming meetings at the SCO and BRICS summits are expected to provide opportunities for further discussions on regional and global issues, as well as on strengthening bilateral ties.