The Chinese leader also criticised “bullying behaviour” from certain countries — a veiled reference to the United States.

And Putin later met his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian, the Kremlin said, with the pair expected to discuss Iran’s nuclear program.

‘Always insightful’

Xi, Putin and Modi were seen chatting, flanked by their translators. Modi and Putin were photographed holding hands and held talks in the afternoon.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (centre), Russian President Vladimir Putin (left), and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a Eurasian political, economic, and international security organisation comprising 10 member states. Source: Getty / Suo Takekuma

Russian state media reported Modi and Putin spent nearly an hour talking “face-to-face” in Putin’s armoured presidential car before an official meeting.

Before their meeting, Modi praised the “special and privileged strategic partnership” with Russia and said India wanted both sides in the Ukraine conflict to “find stable peace”.

‘Mutual trust’