This was not the first time the two leaders shared a ride. Most recently they rode together after their bilateral meeting in Bishkek on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit last month.Prior to that, it was last year in China's Tianjin,when
PM Modi and Putin shared a ride for the first time in the Russian President's Aurus limousine as they left the SCO Summit. Putin reportedly offered the ride to PM as he wanted them to travel together to the hotel venue of their bilateral meet. During the drive, they had a private conversation that lasted nearly an hour. According to ANI sources, the Russian leader waited for nearly 10 minutes so that Prime Minister Modi could join him.After that, in December 2025, PM Modi broke protocol to receive Putin at Palam airport. The two leaders then "carpooled" to the prime minister's residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg for a private dinner.This meeting comes as India hosts the Brics Summit under its chairship, bringing together leaders of the grouping in New Delhi. The leaders held bilateral talks about about 45 minutes, said to focussed on India-Russia strategic partnership. PM Modi also presented Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, the ancient Tamil classic by poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar.
