Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow sees New Delhi as a trusted partner and does not view its growing cooperation with other countries, including the US, as a threat to bilateral ties.
Speaking at a meeting with heads of leading global news agencies in St. Petersburg on Thursday, Putin said that despite India's expanding strategic partnership with the US, Russia remains confident about the future of its relationship with New Delhi.
"We're developing our ties with India and will continue doing that. And we deem India to be a very reliable partner," Putin said. "It is useless to pressure Prime Minister Modi," he added, referring to the increasing pressure on India over its purchase of Russian crude oil.
The Russian President also expressed confidence in the future of India-Russia economic ties, saying bilateral trade could reach $100 billion in the coming years. He said India is a great nation and a major democracy that consistently acts in pursuit of its own national interests.
