Putin Will Meet with Modi, Xi this Week in an Effort to Boost Russia’s Ties with India & China

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet with two prominent world leaders this week, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Moscow has found economic refuge in Beijing and New Delhi as the West attempts to cripple the Russian economy with sanctions. 

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, President Joe Biden led America’s NATO allies in an economic war against Moscow. Biden’s White House has targeted Russia with sanctions in an effort to isolate and cripple its economy. However, the economic war has backfired. Inflation has plagued Western countries, while Moscow has been able to maintain its economic strength by exporting more to India, China and several other non-NATO states. 

Putin will meet with both Modi and Xi in Uzbekistan. The talks with the Chinese president will take place Thursday. The trip to Central Asia will be Xi’s first international visit in two years, underscoring the “special relationship” China’s leader has with Putin. 

The two major powers plan to discuss Ukraine and Taiwan. Both Russia and China see America’s involvement in Ukraine and Taiwan as crossing key red lines. “The presidents will discuss both the bilateral agenda and the main regional and international topics,” Russian official Yuri Ushakov said. 

On Friday, Modi will travel to Uzbekistan for his meeting with Putin. On top of the agenda is Moscow’s economic ties with New Delhi. “There are plans to discuss issues of ‘saturation’ of the Indian market with Russian fertilizer and bilateral food supplies,” the Kremlin said. 

After being hit with Western sanctions, the Indian market has been a vital lifeline for Russia. So far in 2022, trade between Moscow and New Delhi is up 120%. A critical export has been fertilizer. In 2022, Delhi has imported more Russian fertilizer than in all of 2021. 

Last week, Modi stated India wants to expand its energy agreement with the Kremlin. “India is keen to strengthen its partnership with Russia on Arctic issues. There is also immense potential for cooperation in the field of energy,” he said. Delhi increased its oil imports from Moscow to nearly one million barrels per day in June.