Beijing/IBNS, Sept. 1 -- In a strong optics of diplomacy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took a car ride with Russia's President Vladimir Putin after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet in Tianjin.

The premiers of the two countries headed for a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the meet.

The Trump administration, which has so far been snubbed by New Delhi after tariff imposition, has sanctioned India to discourage the buying of Russian oil.

The US argues the purchase of oil is fuelling money into the Russian economy amid Moscow's war with Ukraine.

Since the conflict in Ukraine began in early 2022, India significantly increased its imports of discounted Russian crude oil-now comprising over 30 percent of its to...