PM Modi holds hands with Putin, Xi in striking photo from BRICS Summit

The moment comes against the backdrop of India's efforts to strengthen ties with both Russia and China while maintaining its strategic partnerships with other major powers.

A picture speaks a thousand words. And when that picture brings together the leaders of three major world powers, it speaks a million. A photograph released on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi shows PM Modi holding hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The photograph shows Modi standing between Putin and Xi, with the three leaders holding hands and sharing a light-hearted moment. The image comes as India hosts the BRICS summit amid heightened geopolitical tensions and growing divisions over the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.

The moment comes against the backdrop of India's efforts to strengthen ties with both Russia and China while maintaining its strategic partnerships with other major powers.

India, China and Russia were among the four founding members of BRIC, along with Brazil, when the grouping took shape in 2006.

It also comes a day after a photograph of PM Modi holding hands with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian went viral online.

That gesture stood out because of its timing. Iran is at the centre of a conflict that has disrupted energy supplies and maritime trade,

This is a developing story. It will be updated.

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