Tianjin, Sept 1: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday reaffirmed their “special and privileged strategic partnership” and expressed satisfaction with progress in economic, financial, and energy cooperation, the Ministry of External Affairs said. The discussions took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, China.
“Even in the worst of times, India and Russia have maintained close ties,” Modi told Putin, highlighting the “depth of our special and privileged strategic partnership.” He added, “Our ties not just help our people, but they are good for global stability, peace and growth.”
The leaders discussed multiple areas of bilateral cooperation, including the economy, finance, and energy sectors, and expressed satisfaction with the sustained growth in these areas, according to the MEA statement.
Amid international scrutiny over India’s crude oil purchases from Russia, Modi emphasised the urgent need for peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. “India welcomes all efforts to bring peace; we hope that all sides move ahead constructively,” he said. “There is a need to end the conflict and to find a way towards stable peace.” The MEA added that the Prime Minister called for expediting a cessation of hostilities and finding a durable peace settlement.
The reaffirmation of ties comes as India faces criticism from the US and Europe, which have accused New Delhi of indirectly supporting Russian aggression in Ukraine through its energy imports. Earlier, the US imposed a 25 per cent punitive tariff on Indian goods following stalled trade talks, adding to existing tariffs and bringing the total duties on some Indian imports to 50 per cent. India has cited the disparity in treatment compared to China, the largest buyer of Russian crude, and Europe, the largest buyer of Russian gas, both of which face no such penalties.
