PM Modi Extends Birthday Greetings to Putin, Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthen India-Russia Ties

New Delhi, October 7, 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin to extend warm greetings on his 73rd birthday and reaffirm the strong ties between the two nations.

According to an official statement, both leaders reiterated their resolve to deepen the “India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” reviewing progress across key areas of bilateral cooperation. Prime Minister Modi wished President Putin good health, happiness, and continued success in his endeavours.

During the discussion, Modi expressed his anticipation of welcoming President Putin to India later this year for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, scheduled for December.

The conversation came less than two weeks after a previous exchange on September 27, during which both leaders had reaffirmed the long-standing nature of the India-Russia relationship. In that earlier interaction, President Putin described the partnership as being based on “national consensus” and praised India’s economic performance and independent foreign policy under Modi’s leadership.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India is pursuing an entirely independent and sovereign policy, achieving remarkable results in the economic sphere. India continues to record the highest growth rates among the world’s major economies,” Putin said, as quoted by TV BRICS.

The Russian leader also sent a congratulatory telegram to Prime Minister Modi on his 75th birthday, lauding his “personal contribution” to enhancing the strategic partnership and expanding cooperation between the two countries across multiple sectors.

Putin expressed confidence that both nations would maintain a constructive dialogue and continue joint efforts to address key global and regional challenges.

India and Russia have shared a robust relationship for decades, with the “Declaration on the India-Russia Strategic Partnership” signed during President Putin’s 2000 visit marking a cornerstone of their diplomatic engagement. The partnership has since evolved into one of India’s most significant foreign policy pillars.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Both ministers discussed bilateral relations, the Ukraine conflict, and developments in the Middle East, signaling continued momentum in India-Russia diplomatic engagement.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Russian Embassy confirmed the meeting, emphasizing the “ongoing dialogue and cooperation” between the two nations.