‘Talented, driven people’: Putin praises India and its potential for development

Russian President Vladimir Putin was once again all praises for India, calling Indians “talented” and “driven” with great potential to achieve outstanding results in development.

Speaking on the occasion of Russian Unity Day November 4, Putin was upbeat about the potential that the billion-strong population of Moscow’s long-time ally, India, holds.

“Let’s look at India: a talented, very driven people with such a drive for internal development. It (India) will certainly achieve outstanding results in terms of its development. There are no doubts. And almost one-and-a-half billion people. Now that’s potential,” he said.

Last week, Putin was effusive about India’s political leadership and commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his independent foreign policy. At the plenary session of think-tank the Valdai Club, he noted that New Delhi’s role in global affairs will grow in the days ahead and that the “future belongs to India”.

Putin’s remarks came ahead of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Moscow next week, amidst the conflict in Ukraine. During his two-day trip to Russia from November 7-8, Jaishankar will hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and review the whole gamut of bilateral ties.

The Indian foreign minister will also meet with Deputy Prime and Minister of Trade and Industry Denis Manturov to discuss issues pertaining to economic cooperation between the two countries.

Russia has been a time-tested partner for India and the country has been a key pillar of New Delhi’s foreign policy.

On its part, India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and abstained on resolutions to do with Moscow’s actions in Ukraine. It has maintained that the conflict must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.

New Delhi has also increased the import of discounted crude oil and coal from Russia notwithstanding objection over it by several Western powers.