Modi-Putin's carpool diplomacy: Russian President rides with PM after landing in India in a Tianjin redux | Watch

President Putin is on a two-day state visit for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit scheduled in Delhi on December 5

Updated on: Dec 4, 2025, 20:16:34 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the same car after latter received him at the Palam airport in Delhi on Thursday evening. This was a redux — a return of favour — after PM Modi rode with Putin in the Russian leader's car in Tianjin, China, three months ago.

PM Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled in the same car to Lok Kalyan Marg from Delhi's Palam airport. (X/@narendramodi)

President Putin is on a two-day state visit for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit scheduled in Delhi on December 5.

Modi and Putin had travelled in the same vehicle, assigned for Putin in that case, to the venue of their bilateral meeting after the proceedings at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit venue at Tianjin in September 2025.

On Thursday, Modi escorted Putin and they both were driven away in a Toyota Fortuner SUV. Modi was to later host a dinner for the Russian leader.

Putin was asked in an interview about their carpool of September 1 in his Aurus Senat limousine. "The car ride with PM Modi was my idea. It was a symbol of our friendship," Putin replied, in the India Today interview before he left Moscow for Delhi.

"We talked throughout the drive; there’s always something to discuss. We even sat inside the car for quite some time afterward," he added.

PM Modi posted a photo of it on X, writing with it: “After the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue, President Putin and I travelled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting. Conversations with him are always insightful."

Their overt show of friendship came also at a time when there was a chill in India's trade relations with the US after Donald Trump “penalised” Delhi with high tariffs its purchase of Russian crude oil despite the Ukraine war. India has consistently defended its stance by stressing its national interest.

Modi and Putin's bonhomie, though, goes back almost three decades. As CM of Gujarat, Modi had visited Russia with then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.