SCO Summit: PM Modi meets Putin; tells him 'it's not an era of war'

Samarkand, Sep 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Russian President Vladimir Putin and held bilateral talks on sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Samarkand.

The two leaders discussed issues pertaining to strategic stability, trade, the situation in the Asia Pacific region and bilateral cooperation within the UN and G20.

PM Modi told Russian President Putin,''Today's era isn't of war and I've spoken to you about it on the call. Today we will get the opportunity to talk about how can we progress on the path of peace. India-Russia has stayed together with each other for several decades."

"I know about your position on the conflict in Ukraine and also about your concerns. We want all of this to end as soon as possible. We will keep you abreast of what is happening there," Putin during a bilateral meet with PM Modi.

Prime Minister Modi told Russian President Putin,"We spoke on the phone several times about India-Russia bilateral relations and also on various issues. We should find ways to address the problems of food, fuel security and fertilizers. I want to thank Russia and Ukraine for helping us to evacuate our students from Ukraine."

Meanwhile, ahead of PM Modi's birthday on September 17, Putin said, "My dear friend, tomorrow you are about to celebrate your birthday..."

The talks assume importance as India will preside the UN Security Council in December, and, in 2023, India will lead the SCO and will also chair the G20.

Russia has been a key supplier if weapons and energy to India. In the first seven months of this year, India's imports from Russia stood at a little over $13 billion compared with just $2 billion a year earlier, according to Commerce Ministry figures, cited Bloomberg.