India’s ties with Russia and US are no zero-sum game

President Vladimir Putin has returned to Moscow very satisfied by his whirlwind 30-hour State visit to India.

- Ajai Malhotra

Incorporating the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, it stood out for its symbolism and substance, and injected fresh momentum into the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership that uniquely defines India-Russia relations.Discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Putin were warm and candid, reflecting a quarter century of personal rapport and mutual respect. Putin candidly briefed Modi on the Ukraine peace push since the Alaska summit last August, led principally by Washington and Moscow. Having met President Donald Trump's Special Envoy in Moscow shortly before arriving in India, Putin shared his impressions of the ongoing diplomatic track. Modi reiterated that India stands on the side of peace and that dialogue and diplomacy are the only credible path to resolving the Ukraine conflict. This stance aligns naturally and entirely with the peace efforts now underway by Russia and the US.

Indeed, moves by Trump and Putin to end the Ukraine conflict and normalise their relations squarely serve India’s interests.

The Delhi summit joint statement underlined continuity and political trust and a commitment to strengthen coordination on global issues — from advancing a multipolar world order to supporting India’s growing role in global governance. Rather than emitting geopolitical signals, the visit focused on consolidating economic cooperation in trade, technology and people-to-people exchanges. Indeed, both were at pains to emphasise that they sought to enhance their bilateral ties and wished no harm to others.

A forward looking joint vision document and 16 agreements testify to the vitality of this partnership. A highlight was the Programme for the Development of Strategic Areas of India-Russia Economic Cooperation till 2030, a concrete roadmap to diversify trade, close imbalances, and expand collaboration in many priority sectors.