Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reaffirm the strong and historic partnership between Russia and India, praising India’s independent policies and rapid economic growth.

Putin and Modi Discuss Bilateral Relations

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, reaffirming the deep-rooted friendship between Moscow and New Delhi. The Kremlin announced the details of the call on its official website, stressing that the discussion focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and addressing current global challenges.

During a separate meeting with Russian government officials, Putin shared insights from his conversation with Modi. He described the India-Russia relationship as “based on a national consensus,” highlighting its stability and long-standing trust.

Putin Praises Modi’s Leadership and India’s Progress

Putin commended India’s governance and economic achievements under Modi’s leadership. He also emphasized India’s independent approach to foreign policy and its rapid economic rise.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India is pursuing an independent, sovereign policy and, most importantly, achieving very good results economically. India is recording the highest growth rates among the world’s major economies,”
Putin stated.

The call came shortly after Putin sent a personal birthday message to Modi on his 75th birthday. In his telegram, Putin praised Modi’s role in strengthening the relationship between the two countries.

“You [Narendra Modi] are making a great personal contribution to strengthening the special privileged strategic partnership between our countries and developing mutually beneficial Russian-Indian cooperation in various areas,” he wrote.

Focus on Future Cooperation

Furthermore, Putin expressed confidence in expanding joint initiatives between Russia and India. He voiced optimism about continuing “constructive dialogue and joint work on topical issues on the regional and international agenda.”

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also underlined the importance of this partnership. It stated that Russia remains a trusted and time-tested partner and noted that strengthening India-Russia ties has been a key priority for India’s foreign policy since the signing of the Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership in October 2000, during Putin’s visit to India.

Jaishankar and Lavrov Hold Talks at UNGA

Meanwhile, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

The Russian Embassy in India confirmed the meeting through a post on X, stating, “Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and EAM Dr S Jaishankar hold a meeting on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.”

Later, Jaishankar shared details of the discussion, writing, “Good conversation with FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia on the sidelines of #UNGA80. Useful discussion on bilateral ties, the Ukraine conflict and developments in the Middle East.”

Strengthening Relations Amid Global Tensions

These high-level interactions underscore India and Russia’s commitment to maintaining close ties despite rising geopolitical tensions. Through both the phone call and the UNGA meeting, leaders from both nations signaled their intent to deepen cooperation in trade, defense, energy, and diplomacy.

As global challenges grow, India and Russia aim to work closely on regional and international issues while reinforcing their decades-old strategic partnership.