Leaders embrace during summit engagement; Modi invites Russian President for BRICS engagementPrime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a warm meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on August 31, with the two leaders greeting each other with an embrace. The interaction lasted around 10 minutes, according to reports, and the leaders were also seen travelling together. Modi invited Putin to participate in a BRICS engagement, while the meeting once again highlighted the longstanding strategic relationship between India and Russia. The interaction comes at a time when New Delhi continues to maintain close energy and defence ties with Moscow while simultaneously expanding relations with the United States and Europe. India has consistently described its foreign policy approach as one driven by national interest and strategic autonomy.
