New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke to Vladimir Putin and congratulated him for re-electing as Russian President for the next six years. Taking to social media, PM Modi said he emphasized working together to further strengthen the time-tested Special & Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia in the years to come.
"Spoke with President Putin and congratulated him on his re-election as the President of the Russian Federation. We agreed to work together to further deepen and expand India-Russia Special & Privileged Strategic Partnership in the years ahead," PM Modi wrote on X.
"PM congratulated him on his re-election as the President of the Russian Federation and conveyed his best wishes for peace, progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Russia. The leaders also reviewed progress in various issues of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest," according to the statement released by the Prime Minister's office.
While discussing the Russia-Ukraine conflict, PM Modi reiterated India’s consistent position in favour of dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward.
Putin secured a landslide victory in the Russian Presidential elections
The telephonic conversation between the two leaders came days after Russia held Presidential elections wherein Putin secured nearly 88 per cent of the votes. The telephonic conversation between the two leaders came days after Russia held Presidential elections wherein Putin secured nearly 88 per cent of the votes.
On Monday, March 18, PM Modi also congratulated him on social media where he echoed a similar message for the Russian leader.
India did not join Western and European leaders in denouncing Putin's victory
However, Putin's victory did not get the same gesture as he received from India and China. The Western and European leaders denounced the results of the election and alleged President Putin for squeezing the Opposition leaders. The leader accused Putin of "killing" the Russian Opposition leader Alexi Navalny in jail and opined that elections were just symbolic.
However, India did not criticise and rather took a neutral stand on the Russian Presidential elections. It is worth mentioning India and Russia have shared exemplary relations since independence. The relationship further took flight following Russia's attack on its neighbouring nation, Ukraine. Moscow, which has been facing hundreds of sanctions imposed by the West and Europe, managed to maintain good relations with New Delhi. In fact, India has been among a few nations which continue to buy Russian energy, ignoring sanctions.
Putin has led Russia as president or prime minister since December 1999, a tenure marked by international military aggression and an increasing intolerance for dissent. At the end of his fifth term, Putin would be the longest-serving Russian leader since Catherine the Great, who ruled during the 18th century.
