PM Modi speaks with Putin, reiterates resolve to deepen India-Russia ties amid Trump tariff row

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on a phone call on Friday, and both the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepen India-Russia ties, days after US President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods over Russian oil purchases by New Delhi.

President Putin briefed the Prime Minister on the latest developments concerning Ukraine. Prime Minister Modi thanked President Putin for his detailed assessment and once again reiterated India’s consistent position for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.

PM Modi said in a post on X, “Had a very good and detailed conversation with my friend President Putin. I thanked him for sharing the latest developments on Ukraine. We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. I look forward to hosting President Putin in India later this year.”

The two leaders also reviewed progress in the bilateral agenda and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia.

On Thursday, President Putin had received India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval at the Kremlin, marking a significant moment in the evolving strategic partnership between New Delhi and Moscow, and held a meeting in the presence of senior Russian officials, including Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu and Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov.

Ambassador Vinay Kumar also joined the high-level discussions, which focused on regional security, defence cooperation, and preparations for the forthcoming leadership-level engagement.

The meeting was deemed highly significant, as it was held a day after US President Donald Trump imposed additional tariffs on India, citing continued purchase of Russian oil by Indian entities.

The Kremlin released footage showing Doval shaking hands with Putin. Doval is visiting Moscow at a time when India is facing pressure from the West, particularly US, over its energy ties with Russia.

At a bilateral conference earlier this year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that India and Russia share “close or even coinciding views” on the emerging multipolar world order. He also emphasised that the relationship has “stood the test of time” and continues to evolve on the basis of mutual respect, strategic alignment, and shared global interests.

Earlier on Thursday, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called PM Modi and the two leaders agreed on a framework to strengthen cooperation in trade, technology, energy, defence, agriculture, health and people-to-people ties.

They also reiterated their commitment to take India-Brazil Strategic Partnership to new heights. The two leaders exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest.