‘Modi not one to give in to pressure’: Putin hails PM's leadership ahead of India visit

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attend a concert prior to an informal dinner on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan on October 22, 2024.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a leader who “is not one to give in to pressure”, responding to a question on whether the United States is trying to push India with tariff tactics. Putin made the remarks in an interview to India Today ahead of his two-day visit to India beginning Thursday.

The Russian President said the world has witnessed India’s firm international stance and that the country can be proud of its leadership. He also noted that more than 90 per cent of financial transactions between the two countries have been successfully completed.

Welcoming the India Today team, the 73-year-old Putin said he was happy to host them in Moscow and added that he was “very happy” to travel to meet his “friend, Prime Minister Modi” in Delhi.

“There is a lot to discuss,” he said, referring to the wide scope of cooperation between the two nations. Putin spoke of the “unique” history of India Russia relations and praised India’s development since 1947, calling its achievements in just 77 years “remarkable”.

His limo ride with Modi was spontaneous

Putin also spoke about his widely discussed limousine outing with PM Modi during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in China this September. According to him, the gesture was completely unplanned.

“The car ride with PM Modi was my idea. It was a symbol of our friendship,” he said, adding that they were simply discussing the summit agenda.

“It wasn’t pre planned. We stepped outside, my car was there, and I suggested that we ride together. It wasn’t some elaborate orchestration, we simply got into the car as friends,” he told India Today. He said the two leaders continued their discussion even after arriving at the venue. “We talked throughout the drive; there’s always something to discuss. We even sat inside the car for quite some time afterward.”

What to expect from the visit

Putin hinted that several joint decisions will be announced in Delhi but did not elaborate. He praised India’s economic strength, saying a 7.7 per cent growth rate reflects the success of the Modi government. “This is an achievement under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, and one the Indian nation can take pride in,” he said.

While withholding specifics, Putin said both nations are shaping the future together in critical sectors such as nuclear energy, space, aircraft manufacturing, and shipbuilding. He added that Artificial Intelligence could also be part of the discussion. “We will prioritise what holds the greatest significance at this stage,” he told India Today.