Putin Holds Consecutive Meetings with Leaders of India, Turkey, and Iran in China

Putin to Hold Bilateral Talks with Xi Jinping on September 2
Possible Meeting with Kim Jong Un Also in Focus

Russian President Vladimir Putin held bilateral meetings with the leaders of India, Turkey, and Iran on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

According to Russia's TASS news agency and other sources on September 1 (local time), President Putin first met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after concluding the SCO summit. Prime Minister Modi posted a photo on his X (formerly Twitter) account showing him riding in a car with President Putin on the way to the meeting venue, stating, "Conversations with him are always insightful."

Prime Minister Modi expressed hope that the two countries would move forward together to bring an end to the war in Ukraine. He also added, "Close cooperation between India and Russia is important not only for both countries but also for global peace and security."

Despite the United States openly criticizing India's imports of Russian crude oil and imposing a 50% reciprocal tariff, President Putin and Prime Minister Modi demonstrated a strong bond. There was also a moment captured of the two leaders conversing with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

President Putin also met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressing his gratitude to Turkey for its significant political and diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. He emphasized, "I am confident that Turkey's special role in these matters will continue to be needed." President Putin further mentioned that since May, there have been three rounds of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, Turkey, which have led to progress on humanitarian issues.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that after meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, President Putin had brief conversations with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon.

Subsequently, President Putin held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. As the two countries have been strengthening their ties, including in the military field, since Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine, Russian ministers of foreign affairs, agriculture, transport, finance, and energy also attended the meeting. Notably, as Iran faces snapback (reimposition of sanctions) pressure from the European Three (E3) countries-Britain, France, and Germany-over its nuclear program, President Putin stated, "Russia and Iran continue to maintain contact on various aspects of the international agenda, including issues related to Iran's nuclear program."

President Pezeshkian emphasized the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed by the two countries in January, stating, "I am personally overseeing the implementation of all agreements that have been signed," and added, "I will do everything possible to remove any obstacles related to this."

According to TASS, President Putin concluded his schedule for the day after holding a meeting with Nepalese Prime Minister Sharma Oli, which extended past midnight.

On September 2, President Putin is scheduled to travel from Tianjin to Beijing to meet with President Xi. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov explained that the Russia-China summit will consist of an expanded meeting, a small-group meeting, an official breakfast, and a closed-door meeting, during which approximately 20 agreements are expected to be signed. On September 2, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is also expected to arrive in Beijing, raising the possibility of a meeting between President Putin and Chairman Kim. Aide Ushakov previously mentioned that President Putin and Chairman Kim are considering organizing a bilateral meeting.

The leaders of North Korea, China, and Russia are scheduled to sit together and observe the parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of China's Victory Day at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on September 3.