Putin Hails India as a Trusted Partner, Strengthening Ties with Moscow

Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised India as a sovereign and reliable partner, highlighting the deepening ties between the two nations. Speaking at the opening of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in St. Petersburg on Sunday, Putin emphasized India’s growing importance in the emerging multipolar world.

India: A Key Strategic Partner
Addressing the meeting, which aims to strengthen cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Putin said, “We are working with India on another preferential trade agreement with a country that is sovereign, a trusted partner, with a population of 1.4 billion and a GDP of 4 trillion US dollars.” He added that he hopes the council’s discussions will be productive and help advance issues of mutual interest.

Friendship Deepened After India Visit
Putin has repeatedly praised India on public platforms, especially following his visit to New Delhi earlier this month, his first since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022. During the visit, he held bilateral talks with the Indian Prime Minister. The trip came amid international attention, particularly after the United States imposed a 25 percent tariff on Russian oil in August 2025.

During his New Delhi visit, Putin assured that Russia would continue uninterrupted exports of affordable oil to India. Following this, Reuters reported that Indian refiners have resumed purchasing oil from Russian companies not affected by Western sanctions.

EAEU and Global Multipolarity
The Eurasian Economic Union, founded in 2015 by Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan and later joined by Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, has established itself as a self-reliant center in the multipolar global order, Putin noted. He emphasized that strengthening ties with countries like India is central to the EAEU’s vision of cooperative economic growth.

Related