New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday extended birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a phone conversation.
Following the call, Modi said India is committed to further strengthening the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
“Thank you, my friend, President Putin, for your phone call and warm wishes on my 75th birthday,” Modi said on ‘X’.
Acknowledging the call on social media, PM Modi emphasised the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two countries and assured “all possible contributions” from New Delhi to help resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
“Thank you, my friend, President Putin, for your phone call and warm wishes on my 75th birthday. We are committed to further strengthening our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. India is ready to make all possible contributions towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict,” PM Modi wrote on X.
Modi will host Putin in New Delhi in December this year. The two leaders met early this month at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China.
India-Russia ties further expanded as India increased its oil purchases from Russia, an aspect particularly criticised by Washington.
Not just that, President Donald Trump has also imposed a whopping 50% tariff on Indian exports to the US that came into effect on August 27. It includes a 25% penalty for buying Russian oil.
That, however, has not deterred India from its trade with Russia, with top policymakers in New Delhi reiterating the prioritising of India’s national and energy security interests.
Russian leader Putin, as well as its embassy in India, called the US tax imposition a bullying tactic.
