St petersburg, June 5: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to strengthening ties with India and said external pressure on New Delhi to reduce cooperation with Moscow has not affected bilateral relations.
Speaking during an interaction with leading international news agencies in St. Petersburg, Putin praised India’s economic growth and described the relationship between India and Russia as time tested and reliable.
Putin said India is among the world’s leading economies and continues to record strong economic growth under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He expressed confidence that bilateral trade between India and Russia could reach USD 100 billion in the coming years. According to Putin, Russia remains committed to expanding economic and strategic cooperation with India.
Referring to international pressure on New Delhi, Putin said attempts to force India to scale back engagement with Russia were ineffective and harmful to international relations. He stated that Russia has not experienced any significant negative impact from such efforts.
The Russian President emphasized that India pursues an independent foreign policy based on its national interests. He added that India’s relations with other countries, including the United States, do not undermine its partnership with Russia.
Describing India as a reliable partner, Putin said Russia welcomes New Delhi’s efforts to maintain ties with multiple nations while safeguarding its own interests.
During the interaction, Putin also addressed the conflict in Ukraine. He said Russia remains open to a resolution of the conflict and called for efforts to persuade Kyiv to engage in compromise.
The Russian leader questioned the role of European Union countries as potential mediators, arguing that they have supported Ukraine through military assistance. He suggested that the EU could contribute to peace efforts by encouraging negotiations.
Putin also commented on developments in West Asia, stating that Russia supports initiatives aimed at reducing tensions in the region. He described the Ukraine conflict as a regional issue while characterizing developments involving Iran as having broader global implications.
The remarks come amid continued international scrutiny of India Russia relations, particularly regarding energy cooperation and India’s purchases of Russian crude oil.
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