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PM Modi, Putin and Xi make a statement with handshake moment at SCO Summit
India🏛️ PoliticsCenter9/1/2026

PM Modi, Putin and Xi make a statement with handshake moment at SCO Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shared a moment of apparent solidarity during the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek. The trio smiled and formed a chain while shaking hands, captured in a video released by the Kremlin. This gesture occurred during the official family photograph session, a customary part of the summit. While Modi met with Putin bilaterally, no direct meeting between Modi and Xi was arranged. Earlier in the day, Modi briefly spoke with both Putin and Xi before the group photo. Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approached Putin shortly after the Indian leader's interactions, initiating a conversation. This moment echoes a similar display of camaraderie between Modi, Putin, and Xi at the previous year’s SCO Summit in China, where the three leaders engaged in a prolonged discussion marked by handshakes and laughter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were captured in a rare moment of camaraderie during the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Tuesday. The trio were seen smiling and forming a chain as they shook hands during the official group photograph, a traditional feature of the annual summit. The image, shared by the Kremlin pool, highlighted what it described as "strategic alignment: Russia-India-China." Modi, who arrived in Bishkek alongside Putin in a limousine, had already held a bilateral meeting with Putin on Monday. During the meeting, Modi reiterated his call for an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, stating that the prolonged conflict was pushing humanity backward. "Every day spent on war pushes humanity backwards, whereas every step taken towards peace fills humanity with new hope and enthusiasm," he said, emphasizing the need to move from "endless war" to "end of war." Modi also expressed his commitment to peace efforts, noting that India had consistently discussed the issue with Putin and supported all initiatives aimed at resolving the conflict. He urged both sides to pursue a peaceful resolution as soon as possible, describing it as a shared human imperative. Following the bilateral meeting, Modi joined Putin and Xi for the group photograph. While Modi and Putin exchanged brief words before the photo, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approached Putin moments afterward. As Putin walked away from the podium, Sharif appeared to stop him by gripping his hand and engaging in a conversation. Earlier in the day, Modi had also greeted Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and embraced United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during the summit proceedings. The interaction between Modi, Putin and Xi came amid ongoing diplomatic engagements. Modi and Putin traveled together to the Nomad Games in Bishkek, where they attended the inauguration ceremony. Footage showed the two leaders arriving together and entering the venue side by side. Their close coordination reflects the deepening strategic ties between India and Russia, particularly as Putin prepares to visit India later this month for the annual BRICS summit. The group photograph also included other world leaders, such as Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov, who chaired the summit, and foreign ministers from Iran, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The summit, which brings together representatives from 10 member states, 15 partner countries and two observer nations, focused on strengthening dialogue and cooperation on regional and global issues. Modi also met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the summit, marking their first encounter in two years. During the meeting, Modi emphasized India's support for peace efforts and referred to Putin as "my friend," highlighting the importance of moving toward a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict. Putin acknowledged the need to transition from "endless war" to "end of war," though he did not elaborate further. The summit, which accounts for approximately 25 percent of global GDP, aims to build long-term ties based on good-neighbourliness, friendship and cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Discussions centered on promoting dialogue and adherence to internationally recognized principles and norms. Meanwhile, Modi continued to engage with other leaders, reinforcing India's position as a key player in regional and global affairs. His interactions underscored the country's growing influence and its commitment to fostering peace and stability through multilateral engagement.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 2 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

3 reports

India Today logoIndia TodayIndependentCenterFactual 90Objective 859/1/2026
Putin walks off, Shehbaz Sharif follows at SCO summit. Pak PM then does this

At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in brief exchanges with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. After the group photo, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approached Putin, stopping him by grabbing his hand and engaging in a conversation. This occurred a day after Modi met with Putin for a substantive discussion on ending the Russia-Ukraine war, emphasizing that peace is essential for global well-being. Modi and Putin also reviewed their bilateral relations, including trade, energy, and fertiliser security, with Putin expected to visit India later for the BRICS summit. Modi also greeted Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and embraced UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during the summit.

Bias read (Center): The article provides a balanced account of diplomatic interactions between world leaders, focusing on neutral descriptions of meetings and conversations without overtly favoring any political stance or ideology. It includes quotes from Modi regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict but presents them asa

Why factuality (90): The article accurately describes interactions between Modi, Xi Jinping, and Shehbaz Sharif during the SCO summit. It includes direct quotes from Modi regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, which align with the cross-source consensus on the summit's discussions.

Why objectivity (85): The article maintains a relatively neutral tone, focusing on factual descriptions of interactions and statements made by Modi and Putin. It avoids overt bias or emotional language.

India Today logoIndia TodayIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 809/1/2026
PM Modi, Putin and Xi make a statement with handshake moment at SCO Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shared a moment of apparent solidarity during the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek. The trio smiled and formed a chain while shaking hands, captured in a video released by the Kremlin. This gesture occurred during the official family photograph session, a customary part of the summit. While Modi met with Putin bilaterally, no direct meeting between Modi and Xi was arranged. Earlier in the day, Modi briefly spoke with both Putin and Xi before the group photo. Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approached Putin shortly after the Indian leader's interactions, initiating a conversation. This moment echoes a similar display of camaraderie between Modi, Putin, and Xi at the previous year’s SCO Summit in China, where the three leaders engaged in a prolonged discussion marked by handshakes and laughter.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on diplomatic interactions among world leaders without overtly favoring any side. It describes the handshake and interactions neutrally, citing the Kremlin's video and referencing prior events without editorializing or biased language. The framing remains balanced, focusing on客观的

Why factuality (85): The article accurately describes the visual moment of PM Modi, Putin, and Xi at the SCO Summit, citing the Kremlin pool's video and referencing previous similar interactions. It mentions the absence of a direct Modi-Xi meeting and includes details about Sharif approaching Putin, aligning with cross-

Why objectivity (80): The tone remains neutral, describing the event without overt bias. However, the emphasis on the 'camaraderie' and 'bonhomie' may slightly lean toward positive sentiment, though not strongly slanted.

Hindustan Times logoHindustan TimesIndependentCenterFactual 80Objective 859/1/2026
Rare sighting at SCO Summit: PM Modi, Xi, Putin, Sharif captured in one frame

At the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India joined Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a rare group photo capturing multiple world leaders in one frame. The summit included a roundtable discussion chaired by Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Japarov, where leaders from SCO member states and other invited nations participated. During the event, Modi engaged in discussions with both Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Modi urged Putin to end Russia's war in Ukraine, emphasizing India's support for peace efforts, while Putin acknowledged progress toward ending the conflict. This summit highlighted ongoing diplomatic interactions among major powers, including strategic partnerships between India and Russia.

Bias read (Center): The article provides a balanced account of the summit, detailing interactions between various world leaders without overtly favoring any particular perspective. It includes direct quotes from Modi and Putin, offering a neutral portrayal of their discussions regarding the situation in Ukraine and the

Why factuality (80): The article provides a clear description of the group photo and mentions the presence of multiple leaders, including Sharif. It references the roundtable discussion and other activities at the summit, aligning with other reports. Some details are inferred from visual media, but overall, the factual

Why objectivity (85): The article maintains a balanced tone, presenting the event objectively without apparent bias. It focuses on reporting the facts without injecting personal opinion or emotional language.

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