New Delhi – On the occasion of his 75th birthday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed his gratitude to Russian President Vladimir Putin for his personal greetings and reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. The two leaders spoke over the phone, and PM Modi later took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his appreciation and underscore India’s diplomatic position on global conflicts.
In his post, PM Modi thanked “my friend, President Putin” for his phone call and warm wishes, describing the gesture as a reflection of the “deep bond” between India and Russia. He wrote, “We are committed to further strengthening our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. India is ready to make all possible contributions towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.”
Earlier in the day, President Putin had sent a congratulatory Telegram message, which was also published on the Kremlin’s website. In his message, Putin lauded PM Modi’s “great personal contribution to strengthening the particularly privileged strategic partnership between our countries and to developing mutually beneficial Russian-Indian cooperation in various areas.”
The exchange between the two leaders highlights the enduring nature of the India-Russia relationship, even as India navigates its growing ties with Western nations. The mention of the Ukraine conflict in PM Modi’s public response also reiterates India’s consistent stance as a proponent for dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the war.
In addition to Putin, several other world leaders extended their birthday wishes to the Indian Prime Minister, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. A day earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump also called PM Modi to extend his greetings, sparking discussions about a potential reset in the India-U.S. relationship, which has recently faced strain over trade tensions.