At first glance, it looked more like a reunion of old friends than a high-stakes geopolitical meeting.
Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi walked hand in hand as they approached Xi Jinping at a major international summit in Tianjin, China.
Smiles, laughter, and photo ops set the stage for an event that openly positioned itself as a counterweight to the West’s dominance in global affairs.
A Show of Unity Against the West
The gathering was hosted under the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), where more than 20 non-Western leaders came together.
What stood out was the visible camaraderie between Russia, China, and India.
The three leaders were later spotted laughing together in a tight huddle, a clear message of solidarity at a time when relations with Washington and its allies remain strained.
After the summit, Modi even shared a selfie from inside Putin’s armored Aurus limousine, calling their conversations “always insightful.”
For his part, Putin emphasized the deep and longstanding ties between Moscow and Delhi, describing Modi as a “dear friend.”
Xi’s Message: Reject Hegemony
Opening the summit, Xi Jinping wasted no time in taking aim at the U.S. and its allies.
He urged leaders to resist “hegemonism and power politics,” and warned against falling into “Cold War mentality.”
Xi pledged billions in aid and loans for SCO member states, unveiled plans for a joint artificial intelligence center, and floated the idea of a new development bank—moves that would reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar and, in turn, America’s power to impose sanctions.
Putin’s Endorsement
Putin strongly backed Xi’s vision, praising the SCO as a platform for “genuine multilateralism.”
He said the group was working on a new model of stability in Eurasia—one that, unlike NATO or Euro-Atlantic structures, would respect the interests of many nations instead of privileging a single power.
Of course, he also returned to a familiar talking point: blaming NATO for the war in Ukraine.
Putin argued that Western efforts to draw Kyiv into the alliance created the crisis and insisted that any peace deal must address those “root causes.”
He added that he remained open to negotiations, though Ukraine and its allies remain skeptical.
Zelensky Pushes Back
Watching from afar, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky accused Putin of dodging commitments.
Zelensky said Putin had already backed out of a promised one-on-one meeting during his U.S. trip, and was now avoiding him again while in China.
He stressed that “the fire must cease” and reminded the world that even Beijing has called for an end to the war.
Oil, Tariffs, and Tensions
The summit also highlighted how energy continues to shape global politics.
China and India remain Russia’s biggest oil buyers since the invasion of Ukraine, giving Moscow a critical financial lifeline.
While former U.S. president Donald Trump slapped India with steep tariffs, accusing it of helping to bankroll Putin’s war, neither Delhi nor Beijing has shown signs of scaling back their imports.
Analysts suggest Trump’s approach may have inadvertently pushed Modi closer to Moscow and Beijing.
The Dragon and the Elephant
For Xi and Modi, the meeting was also about mending fences.
Relations between their two countries soured after a deadly border clash in 2020.
But Xi struck a conciliatory note, saying China and India—“the dragon and the elephant”—must come together as neighbors and as leaders of the Global South.
Modi echoed the sentiment, pledging to move forward with “mutual respect and trust.”
A Military Display to Follow
The summit may be over, but the symbolism is far from done.
Putin is expected to stay on in China as Xi’s guest of honor at a massive military parade marking the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War Two.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will also attend.
The showcase is set to feature some of China’s most advanced weaponry, including hypersonic missiles, in what many observers see as a clear warning directed at the West.
