Putin names Modi among ‘friends’ to have tea with

The Russian leader has “warm” relations with the Indian premier, he noted at his annual press marathon in Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin has emphasized that he has “people to talk to” among global political leaders, naming Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping as his friends in Asia.

During his annual end-of-year press conference on Thursday, Putin was asked which personalities and political leaders, living or deceased, he would like to share a cup of tea with. Putin said he had very warm memories of former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, ex-French President Jacque Chirac, and former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. 

In Asia, Putin noted, he has friendly relationships with China and India. “I have a very warm relationship with the Prime Minister of India… I have people to talk to,” he said. 

Earlier this month, the Russian leader praised efforts by Modi’s administration to drive rapid economic development through policies that prioritize national interests. “The Indian Prime Minister and [his] government have been creating stable conditions because the leadership is committed to an ‘India first’ policy, and we believe that investments in India are profitable,” Putin said.

The Russian president’s remarks come ahead of a planned trip to New Delhi for a bilateral summit with Modi. While the dates of the visit have yet to be publicly announced, it is expected to take place early next year. Preparations for the visit are ongoing, the Kremlin confirmed earlier this month.

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Political and economic cooperation between the two countries has expanded in recent years amid Western sanctions on Moscow. New Delhi has ramped up purchases of discounted Russian oil despite Western pressure, pushing bilateral trade to more than $65 billion last year. 

As the world’s third-largest consumer of oil, India relies on imports for over 85% of its needs. Russia is now India’s top supplier, and New Delhi often highlights Moscow’s role in ensuring its energy security. Officials have argued that India’s purchases of Russian oil and coal have helped stabilize the global energy market, preventing a widespread energy crisis.

During a meeting in Moscow in July, the Russian and Indian leaders agreed to further expand ties and set a bilateral trade target of $100 billion by 2030. While welcoming the consistent growth in economic cooperation, both sides acknowledged that a significant trade imbalance, driven by India’s rapid increase in oil imports, should be addressed.