New Delhi [India], December 2 (ANI): Anticipation is building ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India on December 4 and 5. Ahead of the visit, Kremlin Spokesperson Dimitry Peskov hailed India–Russia ties, stating that Moscow is proud to have stood “shoulder to shoulder” with India during its historic journey of growth.
“Russia and India’s relationship is not just a standard set of diplomatic protocols and trade agreements. It is much more than that; our bilateral relationship rests on a deep historic background of mutual understanding, partnership, and a shared vision of global affairs based on international law and respect for each other’s interests,” Peskov said.
“We are proud to have been shoulder to shoulder with our Indian friends during their historic growth, and at the same time, we are very grateful to India for its friendly stand towards our country in both bilateral and global affairs. This background gives us a wide perspective for developing cooperation in various fields,” he added.
Highlighting the strong defence partnership, Peskov pointed to the BrahMos missile project as a symbol of deep technological collaboration. “As far as our cooperation in the defence industry goes, let’s remember the famous BrahMos missiles. It’s not just production or buying and selling; it’s the exchange of high technologies, paving the way for a bright future in this field. We are developing a variety of sophisticated systems and are ready to share our experience with our Indian friends,” he said.
Peskov also stressed Russia’s continued role as a key energy partner for India, supplying energy resources at competitive prices. “Energy security is an area where Russia continues to be an important supplier to India. We have no doubt this trade is of great mutual benefit,” he said. He added that Russia remains committed to peaceful nuclear energy cooperation, including the Kudankulam project.
Speaking about global trade dynamics, Peskov said that tariff-related issues between India and the US are a bilateral matter, but Russia remains focused on expanding its own trade with India “without letting anyone interfere.”
He highlighted that nearly all bilateral trade is now settled in national currencies, which he called a crucial step toward protecting the economic relationship. “This is very important because we are securing our trade, our sovereignty, and our cooperation,” he said.
Acknowledging the trade imbalance—where Russia exports far more to India than it imports—Peskov said Moscow is actively working to increase purchases from India. A special forum of importers will be held during Putin’s visit to explore ways to boost Indian exports to Russia, including goods and services.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India from December 4–5 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the visit, he will attend the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit and hold bilateral talks with PM Modi. The visit will offer an opportunity to review progress in key areas of cooperation, chart future pathways for the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” and exchange views on regional and global issues of shared interest. (ANI)
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