India, Russia agree to boost bilateral trade; Putin launches RT India

During his two-day tour of India, Russian President Vladimir Putin held high-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other officials to expand bilateral cooperation across various sectors. He also launched RT India, the local arm of the Moscow-based broadcaster, vowing to present an alternative to Western media perspectives on global developments. “I sincerely hope that RT will not only help showcase contemporary Russia, but also guide our societies on key issues and areas of cooperation,” Putin said of the channel, which faced bans in many Western countries following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Speaking on the occasion, RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan said, “We should have done this a long time ago … In many ill-intentioned countries, our channels are banned. Sometimes it's even criminally liable to watch them … India has only good intentions towards us. Thank you.” She later posted on her X handle that the RT team conducted a virtual tour of RT India for the President. “I hope he liked it. And we have started working for a multi-million-strong Indian audience.”

During Putin’s visit, India and Russia focused on ways to expand trade and strategic cooperation. Modi, for his part, emphasised the importance of cultural and people-to-people ties. Announcing new measures to boost travel from Russia, the Prime Minister said India would soon roll out a free 30-day e-tourist visa as well as a 30-day group tourist visa for Russian nationals. Russia has remained India’s top arms supplier for decades, and Moscow has expressed interest in importing more Indian goods as the two countries push towards their target of $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.

“For decades, the people of both countries have shared deep affection, respect and warmth,” Modi said. He described the India–Russia friendship as a “pole star” that has endured the upheavals of the past eighty years. Thanking Putin for his “unwavering commitment”, he said bilateral ties had repeatedly demonstrated resilience while continuing to adapt to new realities.

Putin, in his remarks, echoed this sentiment while underscoring the strategic depth of the partnership. He highlighted the flagship project at Kudankulam, where Russia is constructing India’s largest nuclear power plant. “Two of the six reactor units are already connected to the grid, while four more are under construction,” he said. “Bringing this plant to full capacity will make an impressive contribution to India’s energy needs, providing cheap and clean power for industries and households.” 

On Friday, Putin was accorded a ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, much to the anguish of several western countries who were keen to project Russia and its leader as a global pariah.