India Is Russia’s Reliable Partner, Putting Pressure On PM Modi To Cut Ties Is Useless: Putin
International
-Oneindia English Desk
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reaffirmed that India is a "very reliable partner" for Russia and projected that bilateral trade could climb to $100 billion in the coming years, while stressing that New Delhi’s engagement with other powers, including the United States, has not damaged India-Russia ties.
Speaking at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, Putin praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, underlined long-standing strategic links between Moscow and New Delhi, and said Russia is ready to deepen cooperation with India across defence, energy and investment, building on projects that date back to the early decades after India’s independence.
Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed India as a reliable partner at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, projecting bilateral trade could reach $100 billion and stating New Delhi's engagement with the US hasn't damaged India-Russia ties, including in defence and energy cooperation.
India-Russia ties and trade outlook at St. Petersburg forum
During his remarks at the forum, Putin emphasised that the relationship is forward-looking. "We are developing our ties with India and will continue doing that, and we deem India to be a very reliable partner…," Putin said, adding that both governments are working to raise cooperation to higher levels across several sectors, including hydrocarbons and nuclear energy.
Putin detailed current trade numbers and set a higher target for India-Russia economic ties. He said bilateral trade now stands at about $58 billion to $60 billion but that both sides can go much further. "We hope that in the upcoming years we will reach 100 billion US dollars in mutual trade. It's about 58 or 60 billion US dollars, but we have all the foundations to work more actively and to reach more ambitious goals," Putin said.
India-Russia trade figures and growth potential
Putin used the platform to highlight how fast commercial links have expanded and how they may grow. According to the Russian president, rising cooperation in areas such as energy supplies, investments and defence contracts supports his view that the $100 billion trade mark is achievable in the coming years, provided both governments maintain the current pace of engagement and project execution.
Key India-Russia trade figures mentioned by Putin are set out below.
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Current bilateral trade range | $58 billion – $60 billion |
| Target bilateral trade (upcoming years) | $100 billion |
Defence cooperation and India-Russia ties in advanced projects
Alongside trade, Putin underlined military cooperation as a key part of India-Russia ties. He said Russia is ready to partner on sophisticated defence platforms, including the Su-57 fighter aircraft. "We are ready to supply India with this aircraft to keep developing it. We don't have any issues or limitations," Putin said. "Same goes for air defence systems."
Putin indicated that Moscow is open to joint work and technology cooperation with India on these systems. He suggested that advanced combat aircraft and air defence platforms could strengthen the broader strategic partnership, alongside existing defence links, as both sides continue long-term projects and potential new industrial collaborations.
India-Russia ties amid US pressure and global engagement
The Russian president addressed questions about whether the United States is influencing parts of the India-Russia relationship. "Another thing is that the US are trying to put pressure on India in some matters. For example, when it comes to cooperation with Russia on some tracks. But everyone has understood that putting pressure on Narendra Modi, that has the largest population in the world, is detrimental for international relations and for bilateral relations. It doesn't matter where this pressure comes from. We don't see any negative consequences. I think that we can come to an agreement with all the participants in this process. As of today, I would say, there are no serious repercussions emanating from the state of affairs," Putin said.
India-Russia ties and New Delhi’s links with other partners
Putin stated that India’s stronger relations with Washington and other capitals have not created serious difficulties for Moscow. According to him, Russia has not observed significant fallout from India’s growing engagement with other countries, including the United States, and sees New Delhi’s outreach as part of a normal foreign policy for a large state.
He rejected the idea that closer India-US ties would erode India-Russia cooperation. "I don't think that this is the case. We are glad that India is developing its relations with all the countries. It's a great country with one and a half billion people, a large economy, and the largest democracy." Putin added that New Delhi’s partnerships reflect national priorities. "It is only natural that it develops its economy in accordance with its interests, with those countries that it deems necessary…," Putin said.
India-Russia strategic partnership and its historical roots
Putin stressed that India-Russia ties are anchored in decades of interaction. "We (India-Russia) enjoy a special privileged strategic partnership. That is how I characterise this relationship. It did not occur yesterday or one or five years ago. This is something we have been working on for decades." He traced the links back to the early phase after India became independent.
The Russian president recalled that the Soviet Union quickly recognised the new republic after independence. "Back in 1947, when the Soviet Union established diplomatic relations with the Indian Republic, we have been doing everything to support the establishment of a new state, a new independent state." He then linked that support to the current strategic partnership, arguing that long-term trust underpins cooperation in energy, defence and infrastructure.
India-Russia ties in energy and the Kudankulam project
Energy collaboration featured strongly in Putin’s comments on future plans. He stressed that cooperation would extend well beyond merchandise trade flows. "We are not only talking about our plans in energy, including nuclear energy. Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) is now being constructed. New platforms will emerge in terms of hydrocarbons. We will be continuing to work together," he said.
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu has been a key project within India-Russia ties for many years, with Russia involved in its design and construction. Putin suggested that fresh hydrocarbon ventures and continued nuclear work at Kudankulam would give additional weight to the broader agenda between the two countries.
India-Russia ties and praise for India’s economic growth
Putin linked India-Russia ties to India’s broader economic rise, arguing that cooperation benefits from New Delhi’s growth. "India is one of the leading economies of the world that shows the highest rates of economic growth. This is not something that comes out of the blue. This is a result of the hard work that the government has been doing under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi…," Putin said.
The Russian president also credited India’s population for the country’s progress since independence. "I'm glad to say that thanks to the hard work and the talent of the Indian people, India has made great and important achievements in its development…," he said. India has recorded high growth across manufacturing, services and digital sectors, which Moscow views as helpful for joint ventures and long-term projects.
🚨🇷🇺🇮🇳 Putin reveals that Russia offered Su-57 to India as a joint project "We are ready to supply India with this aircraft, to keep developing it. We don't have any issues or limitations. Same goes for air defence systems." pic.twitter.com/tiZr13LJFE— Sputnik India (@Sputnik_India) June 4, 2026
Throughout his appearance at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, Putin’s remarks pointed to confidence in the durability of India-Russia ties. He underlined steady trade growth, defence and nuclear cooperation, long-standing diplomatic history and India’s economic performance, while noting that the article was first uploaded on June five, twenty twenty-six, at fifty-seven minutes past six in the morning.
