By Gloria Ogbonna
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed unwavering support for the Indian government and formally accepted an invitation to visit New Delhi during a phone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.
The call comes at a time of heightened global tensions, with the geopolitical axis shifting rapidly under the pressure of war, sanctions, and realignments in international alliances.
The conversation, initiated shortly after a brutal terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region in late April, provided a platform for Putin to reaffirm solidarity with India. Russia “strongly condemned the terror attack,” according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and pledged its “full support” to the Indian government in combating terrorism.
The outreach from Moscow is seen as a gesture aimed at reinforcing ties with a strategic partner, as India continues to navigate a complex diplomatic balance between Russia and the West.
In the same call, Prime Minister Modi extended congratulations to Putin ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II—an event Moscow celebrates as a defining moment of its historical legacy.
While the Russian government often uses the commemoration to showcase its wartime heroism and downplay the significant contributions of Western allies, India has agreed to send diplomats to attend the annual parade in Moscow. Modi, however, will not attend personally.
Putin’s visit to India later this year would mark a rare international trip amid growing legal constraints on his mobility. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for Putin’s arrest over alleged war crimes committed during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. India, not being a member of the ICC, is under no obligation to enforce the warrant, making it a safe diplomatic stop for the Russian leader.
The India-Russia relationship continues to thrive despite increasing pressure from Western powers. India has notably declined to impose sanctions on Moscow or reduce oil imports, even as many Western nations have sought to isolate the Kremlin economically.
At the same time, India maintains a working relationship with Ukraine and its allies. Modi’s recent visit to Kyiv for high-level discussions with President Volodymyr Zelensky was characterized by a firm diplomatic tone and a call for de-escalation.
Meanwhile, the broader context of Putin and Modi’s engagement cannot be separated from the growing tensions with the United States. President Donald Trump, now in the early months of his second term, is pursuing an aggressive strategy to bring an end to the Ukraine war.
The Trump administration has been vocal in criticizing the Kremlin’s inconsistent messaging—publicly claiming a desire for peace while continuing airstrikes on Ukrainian civilian areas. Trump has also publicly challenged Putin’s sincerity, describing him as “tapping me along” during negotiations, and has hinted at harsher economic measures such as “banking sanctions” or “secondary sanctions.”
Trump’s Special Envoy to Ukraine, retired General Keith Kellogg, also echoed these sentiments in a recent media appearance, stating unequivocally that “Russia, not Ukraine, is the impediment to peace.” He warned that Putin is exploiting peace talks to regroup and prepare for future offensives, rather than sincerely seeking an end to the conflict.
In this global chessboard of diplomacy, India is pursuing its own strategic recalibration with Washington. Following the imposition of sweeping new U.S. tariffs, India initially faced a steep 34% hike on exports to the American market.
However, quick willingness from New Delhi to engage in renegotiations led the Trump administration to pause the tariffs. India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal heralded the talks as an “opportunity of a lifetime,” especially as rival China refused similar negotiations and now faces punitive 145% tariffs on exports to the U.S.
Further complicating the picture is the shared membership of India and Russia in the BRICS coalition—a bloc formed to challenge Western dominance in global economics and security frameworks.
The recent BRICS foreign ministers’ summit in Brazil ended without a joint communiqué, reportedly due to internal disagreements, including Ethiopia and Egypt’s objections to South Africa’s potential elevation to a permanent United Nations Security Council seat.
Analysts view the lack of unity as a setback for BRICS, particularly as the bloc faces mounting challenges from Western economic pressure.
Despite the public cordiality between Modi and Putin, India appears to be carefully maintaining a balancing act—preserving its historic ties with Russia while also making room for deeper trade and strategic partnerships with the U.S. and its allies.
Meanwhile, Putin’s declaration of yet another “ceasefire” from May 8 to 10 to coincide with Russia’s WWII celebrations has been met with skepticism in Washington. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce dismissed the move as superficial and accused the Kremlin of manipulating humanitarian narratives to mask continued aggression. “If this really is about commitment to peace, why wait for ten days?” she questioned.
While the road to peace in Ukraine remains fraught with challenges, one thing is clear: the global power dynamics are shifting rapidly.
In this evolving landscape, Modi’s India is increasingly playing the role of a key swing player—navigating competing allegiances, balancing historical partnerships, and seizing economic opportunities wherever they arise.
The upcoming summit in India later this year, with Putin in attendance, may offer more insight into how the world’s largest democracy intends to shape its foreign policy in a time of war, diplomacy, and disruption.
Source Breitbart