Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin once again grabbed attention with an informal diplomatic gesture, travelling together in the same car after their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek.

The two leaders travelled to the opening ceremony of the sixth World Nomad Games at Bishkek Arena, continuing what has increasingly come to be described as their informal “car diplomacy.”

Another ride, another message of bonhomie

The shared ride came shortly after Modi and Putin held their first bilateral meeting of 2026.

Images and videos from Bishkek showed the two leaders sharing a warm interaction before getting into Putin's official Aurus Senat limousine for the journey to the Nomad Games. Modi also shared an image from inside the vehicle.

While the journey itself was informal, it came against the backdrop of important diplomatic discussions between India and Russia.

Tianjin moment repeated

This is not the first time Modi and Putin have travelled together in a car.

At the 2025 SCO Summit in Tianjin, China, Putin and Modi shared a ride in the Russian president's Aurus limousine after the summit. Reports said the two leaders used the journey for a private conversation that lasted more than 40 minutes.

A similar moment occurred during Putin's December 2025 state visit to India, when Modi received the Russian president at the airport and the two travelled together to the Prime Minister's residence for a private dinner.

Ukraine war also discussed

The car ride followed a substantive bilateral meeting in which the Ukraine conflict featured prominently.

Modi told Putin that India supports efforts towards peace and called for a shift from “endless war” towards an end to the war. He stressed that continued conflict sets humanity back and that peaceful solutions are the way forward.

Putin, meanwhile, thanked Modi for his personal attention to India-Russia relations and said the bilateral partnership continues to strengthen.

India-Russia ties remain a key focus

The two leaders also reviewed cooperation across several sectors, including politics, trade, defence, energy, space, mobility and people-to-people ties.

According to the Indian government, they welcomed progress made through the latest India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission and agreed to continue strengthening their Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.

Modi also invited Putin to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, 2026.

‘Car diplomacy’ becomes a familiar sight

The repeated informal journeys have become a notable feature of Modi-Putin engagements. While such gestures do not replace formal diplomatic negotiations, they often attract attention because they highlight the personal rapport between leaders.

The latest Bishkek ride therefore became more than just a journey to a sporting and cultural event — it offered another visual symbol of the longstanding relationship between India and Russia.