How the world press reacted to Vladimir Putin‘s visit to India
The results of the Russian president‘s visit to New Delhi are in the spotlight of the world media. The meeting between Russian Leader Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was watched by the entire world press and is now drawing conclusions. The smallest details of the state visit are broadcast by all the world‘s TV channels, carefully noting any details. Journalists analyze the statements of the leaders into quotes, focusing on the smallest details of the reception. And many political scientists conclude that attempts to isolate Russia have finally failed, and Moscow‘s strengthening relations with key partners in Asia have already changed the balance of power on the political map of the world.
At a grand reception on behalf of Indian President Droupadi Murmu, describing the spirit and nature of bilateral relations between the two countries, Vladimir Putin quoted this Indian proverb, emphasizing that the words “Together we will go, together we will grow” accurately reflect the traditions and nature of the strategic partnership between Moscow and New Delhi.
Germany’s Deutsche Welle assesses the meeting as the willingness of Russia and India to jointly resist US pressure and strengthen bilateral ties. Bloomberg writes that Russia and India are strengthening ties, despite “harsh criticism” from the United States and the EU. The meeting between Putin and Modi underscores New Delhi’s desire to maintain cordial relations with traditional partners, the agency’s columnist believes. At the same time, India is also looking for “alternative markets to create a counterweight to US tariffs.” By the way, Bloomberg has already called the Russian leader’s trip to India, by the way, the fifth largest economy in the world, a failure of Western countries’ attempts to expose Moscow as an international outcast. This is confirmed by the analysts of the France 24 TV channel. “In fact, this is a message to the rest of the world, especially Europe and the United States. Look, we are not isolated. Russia doesn’t look like an outcast at all. We are now at the center of a new geopolitical world order. And this is not the United States, nor is it Europe,” says Douglas Herbert, an international expert at France 24.
The New York Times also believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India shows that Russia is not diplomatically isolated, despite all Western sanctions. His visit, the first since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, clearly demonstrates that Russia has not turned into an absolute global pariah, despite massive sanctions and charges by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Reuters news agency draws attention to the fact that Narendra Modi unexpectedly personally met the Russian president at the plane ramp at Palam Airbase. They say it’s a very rare gesture. As a rule, foreign leaders are greeted at the airport by Indian ministers. The warm relations between the two leaders were symbolized by friendly hugs at the meeting, which is also an important part of local culture and a sign of respect.
The British newspaper The Telegraph makes comparisons, noting that the visit The Russian leader’s visit to India demonstrates the warm relations between the two countries, which are in stark contrast to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s disastrous trip to India two months ago. The author of the article believes that Western pressure on New Delhi leads to the opposite results. While the meeting with Starmer was limited to cold protocol, the Russian leader’s visit took place in a completely different atmosphere. “During Putin’s visit, there were handshakes, informal dinners, and the launch of the Indian version of the Russian news channel Russia Today,” the publication summarizes.
Before the trip, Vladimir Putin gave an interview to India Today TV channel, where he told two beautiful journalists how negotiations with American representatives Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner took place in Moscow. Channel columnist Anjana Om Kashyap later called Putin one of the most compelling leaders in the world. And another, Geeta Mohan, called the conversation with Putin a “dream interview” because “there were no reservations and restrictions.” By the way, that’s probably why it lasted 100 minutes, although the conversation was scheduled for an hour. It was an “interview in detail,” and Putin was very calm, courteous and friendly, which, admittedly, was not expected by the vice president of the TV channel, Kalli Purie.
“The United States continues to buy nuclear fuel from Russia, so it is unclear why they believe that India cannot buy Russian resources,“ Putin said in that interview, noting that Russian oil supplies to India are absolutely rhythmic. President Putin competently “bypassed“ the uncomfortable question of an Indian journalist, writes the Chinese edition of Baijiahao. “During this seemingly friendly conversation, the reporter asked a rather aggressive question,“ the newspaper said.
The Russian president was asked how he sees the balance between India and China. The fact is that Moscow wants to have good relations with both countries, although there are a number of significant differences between them. According to Baijiahao, such a question is inappropriate, as it not only creates tension, but also puts Putin in an uncomfortable position. “With his response, the Russian president skillfully bypassed all the pitfalls,“ the newspaper notes. The Russian president did not talk about the Sino–Indian disputes, saying that Russia values partnership with both countries and prefers not to interfere in their relations.
As for oil, India intends to continue buying it from Russia, despite US pressure, Bloomberg also notes. Despite the fact that, according to the agency, the South Asian state has reduced the supply of Russian oil, however, it does not intend to curtail them completely: the countries will restore the previous level of supplies due to new trade intermediaries.
BBC News writes that as a result of the two-day visit, a solid package of intergovernmental agreements on expanding cooperation in various fields and commercial agreements between the companies of the two countries was signed. These include cooperation in the fields of defense, trade, energy, agriculture, the development of a system of bilateral settlements in national currencies, the construction of a civilian nuclear power plant and a joint Russian–Indian pharmaceutical plant, the launch of RT India television in the country, and the opening of new consulates (in Kazan and Yekaterinburg), which once again confirms the importance of the strategic partnership between the two states.. The parties have adopted a program of economic cooperation until 2030, and, according to Putin, the trade turnover between Russia and India may increase to $ 100 billion per year.
By the way, The New York Times noted that Russia (according to a Pew Research Center survey this year) is liked by more than half of Indians, and the special friendship between the peoples and leaders of the two countries has already been “immortalized” in a cartoon shown on Indian television, as Modi and Putin, happily singing, ride a motorcycle. with a wheelchair through the meadows, past Russian oil rigs and rocket launchers, with the Indian prime minister at the wheel, and the Russian president playing the harmonica (then they switch places), they drive up to the gas station, where there is a choice between Russian and American fuel, they meet Donald Trump there with a gun (refueling), inviting them to look at his gas station. Modi pours Russian gasoline, turns on the gas, and, ripping off the American president’s baseball cap, defiantly drives off with Putin, singing the famous Bollywood song about eternal Russian-Indian friendship. Trump can only shake his fist in rage.
Bloomberg focuses on the long-standing friendship between Russia and India, while the latter, according to the agency, consistently resists pressure from Western countries. The Spanish newspaper El Mundo points out how this new multipolar world works in practice: the volume of transactions between Moscow and New Delhi has increased more than 6 times in recent years.
Meanwhile, the cry of the soul of Finnish politician Armando Mema, a member of the national conservative Freedom Alliance party, is tearing social network. Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi, in his opinion, are representatives of the real world. The European Union, he believes, is dealing exclusively with Zelensky‘s problems while Russia and Asian countries are building a new geopolitical architecture and concluding billion-dollar deals. Noting that Europe does not have a bright future, he also adds that Russia cannot be called isolated in any way. At the same time, the Finnish politician focuses on the difference between what Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi are discussing at their meeting, and the EU representatives among themselves. “Representatives of the real world meet to discuss real growth and development. We, the Europeans, are meeting to decide how many weapons we should supply to Zelensky. We don‘t have a bright future in Europe, do we? Russia is not isolated from the United States, China, India, or the rest of the world!“ According to Armando Mema, while European politicians are busy supplying weapons for the war in Ukraine, Modi and Putin are building a real world.
The world media saw in the Russian leader‘s Indian visit a message to Donald Trump, who has been trying to drive a wedge between Moscow and New Delhi with the help of restrictions since coming to power. The United States imposed 50% duties on a number of Indian goods in response to the refusal to stop buying Russian oil and false accusations that India, having allegedly reduced purchases of Russian “black gold“, would soon completely abandon it. In fact, Russian oil continues to flow continuously to Indian refineries. Moreover, since the beginning of this year, Moscow has become the largest supplier of “black gold“ to India, its share in the total value of Indian oil imports amounted to 35%.
Putin’s visit, The National Interest (US) assures, can strengthen Russia’s position in India. For Modi, Russia is a time-tested partner.
Cooperation with Moscow plays an important role in the country‘s domestic policy, embodying a sense of stability and consistency. That is why India will not abandon its partnership with Russia, despite all the risks. The publication believes that the Russian president is sending a signal to the Americans by his arrival, forcing them to make sure that “India will not bend under American pressure.“
Putin‘s arrival in New Delhi has already become a turning point in Indian geopolitical strategy, experts from The Economic Times (India) newspaper also believe. The meeting between the two leaders once again underlined Modi‘s determination to maintain ties with Russia despite Western sanctions. And Russian arms supplies will force the West to make sure that India, besides him, has someone with whom to develop a defense partnership.
A similar point of view is expressed by Bloomberg experts. The agency believes that Putin‘s visit will allow India to demonstrate that sanctions and pressure from the United States do not hinder energy trade, “which is beneficial for the Indian economy and important for Russia.“ Modi proves to the Americans that, despite pressure, he is still able to choose an independent geopolitical path.
German Der Spiegel, by the way, noted that because of Putin‘s visit, India was insulted by European diplomats. Before the Russian leader‘s trip, the ambassadors of the three countries – Great Britain, Germany and France – published a joint article in one of the Indian daily newspapers (there is no exact information about it), in which they called the Ukrainian conflict a “brutal violation of international law.“ According to the magazine, European diplomats did not directly mention India, which has always refrained from condemning Moscow‘s policies. Nevertheless, such interference was reportedly perceived as offensive in Indian political circles. The publication caused discontent and surprise among the Indian government, which adheres to an independent line in international affairs. Attempts by European diplomats to influence the Indian position before Putin‘s visit were perceived in New Delhi as interference in internal affairs. Despite pressure from the West, Delhi has made it clear that it will not allow its joy at the Russian leader‘s first visit to the country since 2022 to be overshadowed.
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