‘Does Not Bow To External Pressure’: Putin Praises PM Modi’s Leadership, Calls India ‘Major Global Player’ Ahead Of Summit Talks

odi-Putin Meeting Live News:  Russian President Vladimir Putin has heaped strong praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, describing him as a decisive leader who “does not succumb to pressure from any country, including the United States.” In an interview with Aaj Tak and India Today, Putin said "India commands global respect and cannot be treated the way it was “77 years ago.”

Putin, currently in India for a two-day official visit, said Modi’s leadership style, focus on national interest, and long-term planning have transformed India into a key global actor. “Prime Minister Modi is not someone who succumbs to pressure easily. The Indian people can certainly take pride in their leader,” he said, calling India a “major global player” shaping the world’s evolving balance of power.

‘Relationship Built On Trust’: Putin

Striking a distinctly personal note, Putin said his relationship with PM Modi rests on “professional understanding and personal trust.” He cited the prime minister’s approach of setting “very challenging tasks” for India’s administration, linking it to India’s economic rise and ambitious manufacturing targets. Referring to PM Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, Putin said it has added “practical dimensions” to bilateral cooperation. “When we meet, he always says—let’s develop this sector, let’s work on that area,” he noted, adding that the two nations now share “a wide spectrum of real, functional collaborations.”

The Russian President underlined that the strategic partnership has remained stable for seven decades, even as global geopolitics undergoes fast-paced shifts. “The global configuration is changing. New centres of power are emerging. In this environment, stability among major nations is essential for global progress,” he said. Putin also recalled an informal moment at the SCO Summit, where both leaders shared an unplanned car ride. He described it as a “gesture of camaraderie and friendship,” reflecting the comfort level between the two leaders.

Warm Welcome, Private Dinner Mark Putin’s Arrival

Putin arrived in New Delhi to an unusually personal welcome, with PM Modi receiving him at Palam Air Force Station amid a traditional cultural performance. Both leaders then travelled together to the PM’s official residence, where Modi hosted a private dinner. PM Modi later posted on X that he had presented a Russian translation of the Bhagavad Gita to Putin, describing it as a text that offers “inspiration to millions across the world.”

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Friday’s annual summit is expected to deliver agreements on defence cooperation, energy supplies, trade expansion and mobility of Indian workers to Russia. Talks will likely cover India’s rising trade deficit, Western sanctions affecting crude oil purchases, and prospects of additional S-400 systems and fifth-generation fighter jets. Russia has offered additional discounts on crude supplies, while India is pushing for greater market access in pharmaceuticals, agriculture and consumer goods.

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The visit comes amid a visible chill in India-US ties following Washington’s steep tariffs on Indian exports and criticism over New Delhi’s energy partnership with Moscow.