Amid US threats, Modi, Putin stress 'special ties'

Russian president updates PM on his talks with US over Ukraine; Modi invites Putin to India for annual summit

- Rezaul H Laskar

India and Russia doubled down on their time-tested relationship on Friday against the backdrop of the US's punitive tariff on New Delhi for buying Russian oil, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin pledging to deepen their strategic partnership.

Modi spoke on phone with Putin to review the bilateral relationship, a day after Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva dialled the Indian leader to discuss the fallout of US President Donald Trump's tariff policy.

“Had a very good and detailed conversation with my friend President Putin. I thanked him for sharing the latest developments on Ukraine,” Modi said on social media after the conversation.

“We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” he said.

Modi said he looked forward to hosting Putin in India later this year.

The phone conversation came a day after National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met Putin and other senior Russian officials in Moscow, with both sides reiterating their commitment to the bilateral strategic partnership.