Putin, Modi hail friendly ties

AFP | Moscow

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Russia’s Vladimir Putin and India’s Narendra Modi yesterday hailed their friendship and warm relations, holding a phone call despite pressure from Washington over growing economic ties between the two.

US President Donald Trump has bumped up tariffs on India, which has become a major purchaser of Russian oil, with Western sanctions imposed on Moscow over its offensive on Ukraine.

The Russian and Indian leaders spoke by phone a day after Modi held talks with Trump on the Ukraine conflict and the tariffs.

“Relations between India and Russia have been exceptionally trustful and friendly,” the Russian president said in a televised government meeting after the phone call.

Prime Minister Modi said on X he was “committed to further strengthening our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” and that India was “ready to make all possible contributions towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict”.