PM Modi holds talks with Russian President Putin

Kommersant daily this week said Putin’s one-on-one talks with Modi would likely be the defining moment for the deal as the two seek to resolve price disagreements.

Despite Russia’s simultaneous proximity to both China and Pakistan from a strategic angle, India has strengthened defence ties with its “reliable friend”, thus, indicating a change in the geopolitical scenario in Asia. In this moment of grief and challenge, we stand in solidarity with the people of Russian Federation.

We have laid the foundation of the future character of this strategic partnership.

Modi stated Russian Federation had all the time stood as “energy” beside India and this was a relationship of friendship.

Indian Prime Minister was presented a page from the diary of Mahatma Gandhi and an 18th century Indian sword by the Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“I would like to express my condolences in connection with the recent developments in Egypt and Turkey, when a Russian pilot and innocent Russian citizens died”.

“It is important Russian Federation and India make similar approaches to key worldwide problems”.

“Russia is our most loyal partner, particularly in the fields of defense, security, that’s why I’ve come [here] to welcome our partner to participate in our country’s economic progress”, Modi said. The Prime Minister greeted people on Eid-ul-Milad and Christmas, and added that tomorrow was also the birthday of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. “These annual summits have raised Indian-Russian relations to a new level”.

Putin highlighted the countries’ active interparliamentary and intergovernmental commission work, and emphasized the importance of addressing issues that require special attention in light of a complicated economic climate. This is precisely why the private sector in both countries needs to be given a significant stake in defence dealings – India’s defence public sector, in particular, is sclerotic and can not be relied on to create a strong domestic base in defence manufacturing. “Russia is holding a leading position in many spheres such as space, information technologies and heavy industry”.

Among other arms contracts expected to be signed is the purchase of 200 light Ka-226T helicopters, which would replace India’s outdated Cheetah and HAL Chetak machines. “The two sides identified the air defence missile systems, radars and automated control systems as areas of partnership under the “Make in India”, as well as offset policies of the Indian Ministry of Defence”, said a statement issued by Reliance Defence.

They could announce also the location of a new Russian nuclear plant in south India’s Andhra Pradesh, an extension of the Russian nuclear plant under construction in Kudankulam where one reactor is already in operation.