Putin briefed Modi on Trump talks during limousine ride at SCO Summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin disclosed that he briefed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about his recent discussions with US President Donald Trump in Alaska during a shared car ride in a Russian-made Aurus limousine. This took place on the sidelines of the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, held in Tianjin, China, on August 31 and September 1, 2025.

“This is no secret, I told him (Modi) what we talked about in Alaska,” President Putin told reporters at a press conference, according to Russian news agency TASS. The summit was attended by over 20 world leaders, including Putin, along with the heads of ten international organisations.

The two leaders travelled together from the SCO venue to the site of their bilateral meeting in Putin's Aurus sedan. Although the drive was expected to take approximately 15 minutes, Modi and Putin continued their conversation inside the vehicle for nearly an hour upon arriving at the hotel, opting not to immediately exit.

Russian national radio station VestiFM reported, “The two leaders continued their one-to-one dialogue on the way to the hotel, where they were to be joined by members of their teams. However, on reaching the hotel, they did not deboard the Russian president's limousine and continued their conversation for a further 45 minutes."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later explained that President Putin chose not to interrupt the significant discussion with Prime Minister Modi. He noted that the familiar and secure environment of the car contributed to their decision to remain inside. “They were at home — that was the main thing,” Peskov said. He added that when a serious conversation is underway, there is often no time to pause for walking or relocating to other venues. According to him, both leaders felt at ease in the car, which is why they continued their exchange there. He also emphasised that the bilateral agenda was exceptionally full and demanding.

Putin, addressing reporters during his four-day visit to China, confirmed the content of the discussions. “Well, it's not a secret. I told him about the negotiations in Alaska,” he said. The Alaska Summit between Putin and Trump, held in mid-August, was aimed at finding a resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Prime Minister Modi posted on social media following the ride: “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.”

Commentators in Moscow, quoted by PTI on the condition of anonymity, suggested that this may have been one of the most confidential discussions between the two leaders. They speculated that the secure and eavesdrop-resistant nature of the Russian president’s limousine might have made it an ideal setting for high-level strategic dialogue, likely involving topics “not for the ears of others.”

During the bilateral talks, Modi also expressed that "India and Russia have stood shoulder-to-shoulder even in the most difficult situations", and stressed the importance of their partnership for global peace and stability. He conveyed that it is “humanity’s call” to end the Ukraine conflict at the earliest opportunity and pursue lasting peace in the region.

The interaction took place against the backdrop of deteriorating India-US trade relations, with Washington imposing a 25 per cent tariff and an additional 25 per cent surcharge on Indian exports, reportedly in response to India’s continued imports of discounted Russian crude oil.

At the SCO summit, Modi highlighted the need to enhance connectivity between member states to facilitate trade, while Putin remarked that dialogue within the organisation could help establish a new Eurasian security architecture to replace outdated Eurocentric and Euro-Atlantic models.

President Putin is expected to travel to India in December for summit-level talks with Prime Minister Modi.