‘PM Modi cannot be intimidated or forced to…': Russian President Vladimir Putin

livemint.com:

Narendra Modi and said that he cannot be intimidated or forced to take any decisions that are contrary to India's interests. While speaking at the 14th VTB Investment forum Russia Calling, he also spoke of PM Modi's tough posturing and stance when it comes to defending the national interests. "I cannot imagine that Modi could be intimidated, or forced to take any actions, steps and decisions that are contrary to the national interests of India and the Indian people.

And there is such pressure, I know. By the way, he and I never even talk about this. I just look at what is happening from the outside, and sometimes, to be honest, I'm even surprised at his tough position on defending the national interests of the Indian state," the Russian President's Office quoted him as saying at the Forum.

While underlining the bilateral ties between the two countries, Putin said the relations between the nations have been "developing progressively" in all directions. Speaking at the forum, Putin also asserted that PM Modi's "policy" is the primary "guarantor" of ties between their two nations. On what the two nations could do to accelerate the expansion of bilateral trade, Putin said, "I would like to say that relations between Russia and India are developing progressively in all directions, and the main guarantor of this is the policy pursued by Prime Minister Mr.

Modi. He belongs precisely to that cohort of world political figures about whom I spoke without naming names." Speaking of the trade turnover between the two countries, he added, "Last year it was 35 billion dollars per year, and in the first half of this year it was already 33.5 billion. That is, the growth will be significant.