Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hold bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.
The meeting is expected to cover a range of bilateral, regional and global issues, with India-Russia trade and economic cooperation likely to feature prominently in the discussions.
Modi will begin his four-day visit to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on August 29. According to the MEA, he will be in Uzbekistan from August 29 to 30 before travelling to Bishkek for the SCO summit, scheduled for August 31 and September 1.
Modi-Putin meeting: What is likely to be discussed?
The upcoming meeting comes as India and Russia continue to strengthen economic ties, particularly in areas such as energy, fertilisers and trade.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently met Putin during his visit to Russia. During that meeting, the Russian president expressed hope that he would meet Modi on the sidelines of the SCO summit and conveyed his best wishes to the prime minister.
The two leaders are now expected to review bilateral economic cooperation and discuss key regional and international developments.
Energy security is likely to remain an important issue. During his meeting with Jaishankar, Putin assured India that Russia would continue supplying energy and fertilisers despite disruptions linked to the conflict in West Asia.
Putin also said Russia was increasing fertiliser supplies to India and was prepared to further increase shipments to support Indian agriculture.
Russia-India trade remains a key focus
The Modi-Putin meeting comes amid efforts to expand bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
Putin had noted that trade between India and Russia increased in 2026 after recording a slight decline in 2025. Both countries have been exploring ways to deepen economic engagement despite global disruptions and changing geopolitical conditions.
For India, continued access to energy and fertilisers remains strategically important, particularly amid uncertainty in global supply chains.
The discussions between Modi and Putin could therefore provide an opportunity to assess existing cooperation and identify areas for further economic expansion.
Modi’s Uzbekistan visit
Before heading to Kyrgyzstan, Modi will visit Uzbekistan for delegation-level talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The two leaders are expected to review the progress of the India-Uzbekistan strategic partnership and discuss cooperation across several sectors.
The agenda is likely to include trade and investment, defence, digital connectivity, energy, education and people-to-people ties.
Modi and Mirziyoyev are also expected to discuss their respective long-term development visions — Viksit Bharat 2047 and Uzbekistan-2030 — and explore areas where the two countries can work together.
Why the SCO summit matters
The SCO summit in Bishkek will bring together leaders from member countries for discussions on regional cooperation and major international developments.
For India, the summit provides an important diplomatic platform for engaging with Russia and Central Asian partners while advancing its economic and strategic interests.
The Modi-Putin meeting is expected to attract particular attention given the importance of India-Russia ties in areas ranging from energy and defence to trade and fertiliser supplies.
With Modi’s Uzbekistan visit preceding the SCO summit, the four-day diplomatic tour is likely to focus heavily on strengthening India’s partnerships across Central Asia while maintaining close engagement with Moscow.
