'His stance is unwavering & straightforward': Putin praises PM Modi's leadership

Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised PM Narendra Modi's leadership and said that the Indian PM does not succumb to pressure from any country, including the US.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was speaking to Aaj Tak and India Today at the Kremlin ahead of his India visit and called India a major global player.

"Prime Minister Modi is not someone who succumbs to pressure easily. The Indian people can certainly take pride in their leader. This is absolutely obvious. His stance is unwavering and straightforward, without being confrontational. Our goal is not to provoke conflict; rather, we aim to protect our lawful rights. India does the same," he said.

Putin described his relationship with PM Modi as both professional and personal, rooted in mutual trust and long-term cooperation. He called PM Modi a leader who sets "very challenging tasks" and drives India's high-growth trajectory with key initiatives like Make in India.

"Our collaborative endeavours with Prime Minister Modi carry significant weight because they transcend our mutual ties. Given its direct relevance to both nations, ensuring stability in key areas of engagement is crucial, as it helps secure the fulfilment of our objectives. Prime Minister Modi sets very challenging tasks for the country — and for himself in the first place, then for the administration, and eventually for the nation," he said.

Putin said that PM Modi's call for 'Make in India' has a practical dimension to the bilateral relations. "Take, for example, his famous pitch, 'Make in India'. It has a practical dimension, including for our bilateral relations. When we meet, he always says, 'Let's do this, let's do that, let's look at this area and that'. I can list them all. Therefore, we have a lot of practical areas of cooperation," he said.