SCO summit day 2: PM Modi, Putin to hold talks amid tension over Trump tariffs for Russia oil

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday (Sept 1), marking their first in-person discussion since US President Donald Trump imposed extra tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, taking the total tariffs to 50 per cent.

Earlier this month, Putin met US President Donald Trump at the Alaska summit and spoke to Modi twice in August, once before and once after the Trump meeting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also spoken to Modi recently, ahead of the Indian PM’s departure for the SCO summit, to convey a strategic message.

Trump’s oil tariff on India

The meeting comes at a sensitive time as Trump has strongly criticised India’s purchase of Russian oil, imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on top of the reciprocal 25 per cent tariff already in place. India has called this selective targeting, noting that China and Europe are also buying discounted Russian oil, but that New Delhi has been singled out by Washington.

On the upcoming meeting, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, “I would, at this stage, not preempt the conversation that is going to take place tomorrow afternoon.” Around 45 minutes have been allocated for the noon meeting.

PM Modi in SCO

As Modi arrived in Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, Zelenskyy spoke to him, urging that “the end of this (Ukraine) war must begin with an immediate ceasefire.” Zelenskyy also said that “India is ready to make the necessary efforts and to deliver the appropriate signal to Russia and other leaders” at the summit.

According to the PMO, on August 18 — three days after meeting Trump — Putin called Modi and “shared his insights” on the Alaska meeting. This came just hours before Trump met Zelenskyy and European leaders. Earlier, on August 9, Modi and Putin discussed “the latest developments on Ukraine” and reaffirmed their “commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” during a phone call ahead of the Alaska talks.

Russia has criticised Trump’s tariff move and backed India’s right to choose its trading partners.

Earlier this week, Peter Navarro, Trump’s trade advisor, described the Russia-Ukraine war as “Modi’s war,” adding, “the road to peace runs, at least partly, right through New Delhi” and “everybody in America loses because of what India is doing.”

India has maintained its stance on strategic autonomy. Vinay Kumar, Indian ambassador to Russia, told Russia’s TASS news agency: “Indian companies will continue buying (oil) from wherever they get the best deal.”

According to a Kremlin statement on Friday, Putin is expected to visit India in December.