Putin Calls US Pressure on India Futile, Trade Target $100bn

Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that attempts by the United States and other Western nations to pressure India over its cooperation with Russia are futile and damaging to global stability. Speaking at a meeting with heads of global news agencies in St. Petersburg on Thursday, Putin praised India’s economic growth and independent foreign policy while reaffirming Russia’s commitment to deepening its strategic partnership with New Delhi.

Putin asserted that India, as a sovereign nation, will continue to act in line with its own national interests. He said that pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi is useless and detrimental to international relations, regardless of its origin. The Russian leader described India as a reliable partner and expressed confidence that its growing diplomatic engagement with the United States does not undermine the long-standing relationship between Moscow and New Delhi.

The Russian president credited India's economic trajectory to policies implemented under Modi's leadership. He noted that India is among the world's major economies and is demonstrating an impressive rate of growth, which he attributed to the hard work of the Indian government.