Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin recently delivered a message from President Vladimir Putin to Indian President Droupadi Murmu, further solidifying the already robust relations between Russia and India. During his official visit to New Delhi, Volodin emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership between the two nations, which has been nurtured by years of mutual trust and respect.
“Strengthening engagement with India is one of our key foreign policy priorities,” Volodin stated on behalf of President Putin. He also confirmed that Putin is expected to visit India later this year for a high-level summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. While the exact dates of the visit remain unannounced, the planned summit is anticipated to deepen bilateral cooperation across several sectors.
The Speaker expressed gratitude for India’s continued support and noted the “privileged strategic partnership” shared by the two countries. This relationship, Volodin added, has flourished thanks to ongoing dialogue between their respective leaders. He pointed out the significance of parliamentary exchanges in furthering bilateral ties, stressing that the legislative framework could play a pivotal role in fostering even stronger collaboration.
Volodin, who was invited by Om Birla, the Speaker of India’s lower house of Parliament, met with several Members of Parliament to discuss enhancing cooperation. “Trade turnover is growing, our humanitarian ties are getting stronger, but we must not stop there,” he remarked, calling for the creation of a legislative basis to help sustain dynamic growth in Russia-India relations.
India’s President Murmu welcomed the Russian delegation, acknowledging that regular high-level exchanges have had a positive impact on bilateral cooperation. She echoed Volodin’s sentiments, emphasizing that the strong bonds between the two nations are built on mutual respect and shared interests.
Prime Minister Modi had extended an invitation to President Putin during last year’s BRICS summit in Kazan, signaling the continued commitment to strengthening ties between Russia and India. This will be the latest chapter in the tradition of annual summits established in 2000, when the countries signed a declaration on strategic partnership. Over the years, their relationship has grown, and in 2010, it was elevated to the level of a “special and privileged strategic partnership.”
President Putin’s most recent visit to India took place in December 2021, and the last summit between the two leaders occurred in Moscow in July 2024. Modi also visited Russia in October 2024 to attend the BRICS summit in Kazan, where he highlighted Russia’s critical role in promoting multilateralism, sustainable development, and global governance reforms. The leaders discussed progress in areas such as defense, energy, economy, and people-to-people exchanges, reaffirming the strength of their ongoing cooperation.
