India-Russia Ties, Strategic Defence Cooperation & Global Geopolitics

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, highlighting their strong personal equation and strategic bilateral relationship. Discussions between both sides focus on multiple agenda items, including taking India-Russia trade to 100 billion dollars by 2030, alongside ongoing conversations regarding oil payments and defence procurements. During the bilateral engagement, Prime Minister Modi presented President Putin with a copy of the ancient Tamil text Tirukkural composed by Tiruvalluvar.

The gift carries historic literary connections, as Russian author Leo Tolstoy was deeply inspired by the translated Tirukkural and its core philosophy of non-violence and ahimsa, which he subsequently recommended to Mahatma Gandhi. The exchange carries symbolic significance amid global conflicts, reflecting India's consistent push for diplomacy, negotiation, and peaceful resolution of disputes.