Putin: Modi is not someone who will give in to American pressures/ solving the Ukraine problem is not an easy task

According to RCO News Agency, Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the eve of his visit to India, in a special interview with the Indian media India Today, in response to a question about whether the United States is pressuring India with tariffs, said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “not someone who gives in to pressure.”

“India is a great power that cannot be treated like a British colony, a fact that the international community must accept,” the Russian president said.

His comments came in an interview with India Today’s Anjana Om Kashyap and Geeta Mohan ahead of his two-day visit to India on Thursday. The full interview, which was filmed at the historic Ekaterina (Catherine) Kremlin Hall, will be broadcast tonight at 9 PM on India Today and Aaj Talk.

During the interview, Putin was asked about his views on US President Donald Trump, his bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi in Delhi and the future direction of India-Russia relations.

“India should be proud of its leadership”

He praised the leadership of the Indian Prime Minister and said that the world has seen India’s firm stand and the nation can be proud of its leadership. Putin also noted that more than 90 percent of bilateral deals between Russia and India have been successfully completed.

At the beginning of the face-to-face interaction, the 73-year-old Russian president said that he was happy to welcome the India Today team to the Kremlin and hoped that they would enjoy their stay in Moscow.

He added that he was very happy to travel to meet his “friend, Prime Minister Modi,” noting that the two had agreed to hold their next meeting in India.

Putin said that given the wide scope of India-Russia cooperation, “there are many issues to discuss” and emphasized the “unique” history of relations between the two nations. He also praised India’s progress since independence, saying that the country has achieved significant growth in just 77 years, a relatively short period.

Travel by limousine

Responding to India Today about his high-profile limousine ride with the Indian prime minister at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in China in September, the Russian president told India Today that the car trip was his idea.

“The car trip with Prime Minister Modi was my idea,” Putin said. It was a symbol of our friendship.”

The Russian president went on to say that they were discussing the agenda of the summit, adding: “This was not planned in advance. We went out, my car was there and I suggested we go together. It wasn’t a complicated arrangement, we simply got into the car as friends.”

He added: “We talked during the drive; There is always something to discuss. We even sat in the car after a while.”

At the time, PM Modi had posted on X about the unusual private car trip and said, “After the ceremony at the venue of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, President Putin and I traveled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting. “Discussions with him are always informative.”

Agreements between Russia and India

As Russia and India prepare to sign several agreements during their visit to Delhi, Putin was asked to outline some of the major announcements expected.

“India is a large country with a rapidly developing economy growing at 7.7 percent,” he told India Today. This is an achievement achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and the nation of India can be proud of it. “There will always be critics who say things could have been done better, but the results speak for themselves.”

Without elaborating, the Russian president added that the two countries have a comprehensive cooperation program covering key sectors, including high-tech.

He said: “India and Russia are cooperating in space exploration, nuclear energy, shipbuilding and aircraft manufacturing; Areas that shape the future. We may also discuss artificial intelligence that is changing our world. “We will prioritize what is most important at this stage.”

Parts of Putin’s conversation with this Indian media have been published while the Russian president has left for India and is expected to be welcomed at 6 pm local time and begin his consultations in India.

Ukraine crisis

Vladimir Putin also mentioned to India Today that the proposals of “Steve Witkoff” and “Jared Kushner”, the US envoys to resolve the Ukraine crisis, are based on the agreements reached during the Russia-US meeting in Alaska.

He also noted that Washington has proposed that the 28-point peace plan prepared by the United States be divided into four separate packages and discussed in this way.

According to Putin, the meeting with Steve Wittkoff and Jared Kushner in the Kremlin was “very useful” and lasted “five hours” because every point had to be discussed in detail.

He also pointed out that the proposals of the American representatives are based on the agreements reached at the Russia-US summit in Alaska: “What our American colleagues brought us was kind of based on our agreements from my meeting with (Donald) Trump, the (US) president in Alaska, because we discussed these issues at the Anchorage meeting.”

United States Peace Plan

According to Putin, Donald Trump is “honestly” trying to find a consensual solution to the Ukraine problem, but it is “not an easy task.”

“During the work on the peace plan for Ukraine, there were issues on which we did not reach a consensus, but it is a difficult task,” he added. … At some point, we said, “Yes, we can discuss this, but we can’t agree on it.” While the 28-point peace plan previously prepared by the United States is still valid and under discussion, Washington proposed to split it into four separate packages. They divided these 28 or 27 substances into four packages. And they offered to share these four packages with us. But in fact, they are the same.”

About the settlement of Ukraine

“Moscow suggested that Kiev withdraw Ukrainian armed forces from the Donbas, which would have prevented any military confrontation, but Ukraine decided to continue hostilities: we immediately told Ukraine, to the Ukrainian forces: the people do not want to live with you, they held a referendum and voted for independence – withdraw your forces and there will be no military action,” the Russian president said. “No, they prefer the path of armed confrontation.”

Putin stated that Russia will liberate Donbass and Novorossia “either by military means or by other means”, adding: “It all boils down to this: either we will liberate these territories by force, or Ukrainian forces will leave these territories and stop fighting there.” “The Europeans should also participate in the work on a Ukrainian agreement, not hinder it.”

The President of Russia further noted that his country is not looking to re-join the Group of Eight. This group has become the Group of Seven following Russia’s expulsion from it following the Ukraine war.

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