Putin Praises India as Reliable Partner, Eyes $100 Billion Trade Amidst Ukraine Tensions

June 4, 2026
Putin Praises India as Reliable Partner, Eyes $100 Billion Trade Amidst Ukraine Tensions
  • Efforts to deepen economic integration include talks of an India-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement and a target of $50 billion in mutual investments.

  • On Ukraine, he argued Kyiv must shoulder responsibility for stalled negotiations, dismissed EU mediation as unlikely to de-escalate the conflict, and questioned the mandate of Ukrainian President Zelenskiy.

  • He projected bilateral trade could reach around $100 billion in coming years, tied to India’s strong economic performance.

  • Putin praised the Russia-India strategic partnership, calling India a reliable partner and signaling confidence in deepening ties despite Western pressure.

  • Energy cooperation remains central, with ongoing work in nuclear power and hydrocarbons, citing the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant and expansion of hydrocarbon platforms.

  • Both countries aim to deepen economic integration and explore new trade mechanisms and connectivity projects amid energy security concerns from regional tensions and global disruptions.

  • In FY2024-25, India exported $4.9 billion to Russia and imported $63.8 billion, reflecting pharmaceuticals, chemicals, iron and steel, and marine products as key Indian exports.

  • The bilateral relationship spans defence, energy, trade, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges, with a record bilateral trade of $68.7 billion in FY2024-25 driven by Russian crude oil, fertilizers, and other commodities.

  • The remarks were made during a June 4, 2026 interaction with heads of leading global news agencies in St. Petersburg, and covered by The Hindu.

  • Beyond energy, bilateral cooperation is expected to broaden into pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, manufacturing, technology, and defence.

  • Investments are highlighted as a major area of collaboration, with Russia noting large investment projects and plans for mutual investments.

Summary based on 19 sources


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