'Special, Privileged Strategic Partnership': Putin's New Year Message to President Murmu, PM Modi

Russian President Vladimir Putin extended a special New Year’s message to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday and highlighted the dynamic improvement in the diplomatic ties between the countries despite a difficult international situation. He also noted some important developments in bilateral cooperation between Russia and India in 2023.

“The messages addressed to President of the Republic of India Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi note that, despite the difficult international situation, the special and privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India continues to develop dynamically: in the outgoing year, trade has been growing at an exceptionally high rate and joint projects in various areas have been successfully implemented,” the note stated.

According to a report published by news agency ANI, Putin also praised India’s chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and G20 presidency. He also stressed that both the countries must continue to develop multifaceted bilateral ties and coordinate efforts to strengthen security and stability at regional and global levels.

“Vladimir Putin praised the results of India’s chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the G20 and stressed his conviction that Moscow and New Delhi will continue to develop multifaceted bilateral ties and effectively coordinate efforts to strengthen security and stability at the regional and global levels,” the ANI report quoted.

Only on December 28, Putin met external affairs minister S Jaishankar, who was on a formal visit to Moscow from December 25 to 29 as a part of the ongoing high-level exchanges between the two sides. During the meeting, Putin highlighted the prime minister’s positive stance on complex global developments, including the situation in Ukraine.

The Russian president also mentioned how he has advised Prime Minister Modi on the developments in Ukraine and indicated that further talks on the matter will take place. India has continued to maintain that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. In fact, the PM has told Putin in so many words that “this is not the era of war”, when the two leaders met face to face on the sidelines of the SCO summit.