Putin talks with visiting Modi in Moscow

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin told visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday that their countries enjoyed a "special strategic partnership".

For Modi's part, he appreciated Putin's leadership, and he also said India's relationship with Russia is based on "mutual trust and mutual respect".

Modi was speaking in an address to the Indian diaspora on his first visit to Russia in five years.

Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting between Putin and Modi, VTB Bank CEO Andrei Kostin said Russia and India are engaged in constructive discussion around payments as the inconvertibility of the rupee is hampering bilateral settlements.

Late on Monday, Putin welcomed Modi and gave him a tour around the Russian leader's residence outside Moscow.

"Our official talks are tomorrow, while today in this comfortable, cozy setting we can probably discuss the same issues, but unofficially," Putin was quoted by TASS as saying.

Earlier, 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".

Later, the two leaders were pictured in videos shared by the Kremlin at Putin's residence in Novo-Ogaryovo near Moscow.

Putin drove Modi around the grounds in a buggy and showed him his stable with horses. According to state news agencies, the two had earlier watched a horse show with performers in national Russian dress.

Modi's trip to Moscow and India's relationship with Russia amid Russia's special military operation in Ukraine raise concerns, the US State Department said.

Russia has been India's largest weapons provider for decades and New Delhi and Moscow have had close ties since Soviet times. Russia's share of Indian arms imports has shrunk considerably in recent years, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

At the same time, India has become a major purchaser of Russian crude, providing a much-needed export market for Russia after it was dropped by traditional buyers in Europe.

India's month-on-month imports of Russian crude "increased by 8 percent in May, to the highest levels since July 2023", according to data compiled by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

From Russia, Modi will travel to Vienna for the first visit to the Austrian capital by an Indian leader since Indira Gandhi in 1983.

Agencies via Xinhua