Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held extensive talks during the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Friday, culminating in a joint statement that reaffirmed their nations will “walk together” in the unrelenting fight against terrorism in all its forms. The declaration carries added weight amid continuing cross-border terrorist incidents originating from Pakistan and serves as a clear diplomatic signal to both state sponsors of terrorism and to Western capitals that have often equivocated on the issue.

Both leaders issued an unequivocal condemnation of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, carried out by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, which resulted in multiple civilian casualties. Moscow explicitly endorsed India’s Operation Sindoor—a precise counter-terrorism strike that destroyed terrorist training camps and infrastructure inside Pakistan and in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir—reiterating its longstanding position that there can be no justification for terrorism under any circumstances. This unambiguous support from Russia stands in marked contrast to the cautious or muted reactions from several Western governments following the same operation.

Describing the bilateral relationship as a “pole star” that has remained constant through eight decades of global turbulence, Prime Minister Modi emphasised that the India-Russia partnership is anchored in deep mutual respect, equality, and strategic trust. From the Cold War era to the present multipolar world, this friendship has withstood ideological shifts, geopolitical realignments, and external pressures, emerging stronger with every challenge and continuing to serve as a stabilising factor in international relations.

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On the economic front, President Putin announced an ambitious goal of elevating bilateral trade to $100 billion annually within the coming years, supported by concrete mechanisms including a newly adopted Economic Cooperation Programme extending to 2030. The leaders witnessed the signing of agreements in the shipping sector, committed to expedite a bilateral free trade agreement, and pledged to deepen an FTA between India and the Eurasian Economic Union. Equally significant was their confirmation that settlements in national currencies—Indian rupees and Russian roubles—are expanding rapidly, marking a deliberate step toward reducing dependence on the US dollar-dominated financial system.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict, now approaching its fourth year, featured prominently in the discussions. President Putin briefed Prime Minister Modi in detail on Moscow’s current proposals for a peaceful settlement and expressed appreciation for India’s consistent advocacy of dialogue over escalation. Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed New Delhi’s principled stance that durable peace can only be achieved through diplomacy, respect for sovereignty, and inclusive negotiations, while offering India’s good offices whenever required. The meeting underscored the enduring strategic convergence between the two nations on major global issues.

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