Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on July 9, to deepen strategic partnership between the two countries.
The meeting comes at a time when NATO leaders gathered in Washington and Russia launched missile attacks on Ukraine, hitting a children’s hospital.
This is Modi’s first visit to Russia since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, reflecting India’s nuanced position amid international pressures.
Putin described the relationship as “particularly privileged” and underscored their extensive talks covering a range of issues, including the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Despite mounting international criticism, Modi refrained from overtly condemning Russia, focusing instead on seeking peaceful resolutions.
During their discussions, Modi raised concerns about Indian nationals allegedly pressurized to joining the Russian military, a matter that has strained bilateral relations. India announced plans to discharge these individuals, acknowledging their exploitation under false pretenses.
Modi posted photos of his arrival in Moscow on the social media platform X, in both Russian and English, saying he was “looking forward to further deepening the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between our nations.” Sharing a picture of himself and Putin hugging, he write: “Stronger ties between our nations will greatly benefit our people.”
Zelenskyy calls the visit “devastating blow to peace efforts”
The visit coincided with a tragic escalation in Ukraine, where Russian missile strikes devastated a children’s hospital in Kyiv, killing dozens. The timing drew criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who lamented seeing Modi embrace Putin amidst such devastation.
“It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world’s largest democracy hug the world’s most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day,” Zelenskyy posted on X.
Addressing the media, Modi expressed condolences for the loss of innocent lives in Ukraine, emphasizing the need for peace talks over military actions.
“Be it war, a struggle or a terrorist attack, every person who believes in humanity, when there is loss of life, he is pained,” the Indian prime minister said. “When innocent children are killed, when we see innocent children dying, then the heart pains. And that pain is very horrible.”
He stressed the importance of dialogue in resolving conflicts, a sentiment echoed by Putin, who highlighted their candid discussions on Ukraine and broader geopolitical issues.
NATO summit
The United States, amidst its NATO summit marking the 75th anniversary of military alliance, reiterated concerns over India’s deepening ties with Russia, urging adherence to international norms and Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Commenting on Modi’s visit, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, “We made quite clear directly with India our concerns about their relationship with Russia. And so we would hope India and any other country, when they engage with Russia, would make clear that Russia should respect the U.N. Charter, should respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Trade boost between India and Russia
Despite these pressures, bilateral trade between India and Russia saw a significant rise by 66% last year, driven largely by energy cooperation and defense contracts.
Modi and Putin set ambitious goals to further boost bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030, emphasizing collaborations in energy and nuclear sectors. However, logistical challenges, including delays in defense supplies from Russia due to its focus on the Ukrainian conflict, prompted India to diversify its defense acquisitions.
Russia remains a crucial energy supplier for India, which heavily relies on Russian oil imports amidst global sanctions. The two leaders discussed expanding nuclear energy cooperation, building on their existing collaboration in projects like the Kudankulam nuclear plant.