St. Petersburg: Russian President Vladimir Putin has signaled a major boost to India-Russia strategic cooperation by offering the advanced fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter jet to India and expressing readiness for its joint production under the country’s “Make in India” initiative.
Addressing a gathering of international media executives in St. Petersburg, Putin said Russia is prepared not only to supply the state-of-the-art combat aircraft but also to collaborate with India in manufacturing the jets domestically. The proposal is being viewed as a significant step in deepening defense and technological cooperation between the two longstanding strategic partners.
On the issue of India-China border tensions, Putin maintained that Russia would not interfere in the bilateral affairs of either country. He expressed confidence that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping possess the leadership and diplomatic maturity required to resolve outstanding issues through dialogue and mutual understanding. He emphasized that relations between the two Asian powers are highly sensitive and that third-party involvement would be neither necessary nor constructive.
Putin also accused Western nations of making sustained efforts to weaken the decades-old partnership between Russia and India. He argued that any attempt to undermine relations between the two countries could have broader implications for global stability. Commending Modi’s leadership, the Russian President said the Indian leader consistently places national interests above all else and is not easily influenced by external pressure.
When asked about his own political future, Putin responded with characteristic caution. Elected to a sixth presidential term in 2024, he noted that Russia’s next presidential election is due in 2030. Although constitutional provisions could allow him to remain in office until 2036, Putin remarked that whether he serves for that long is known only to God. He added that his attention remains focused on addressing current responsibilities rather than speculating about future electoral contests.