‘Useless to try to pressure PM Modi’: Putin on US efforts to derail India-Russia ties

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said India’s growing cooperation with the United States does not undermine its longstanding ties with Russia, while also asserting that attempts to pressure New Delhi over its relationship with Moscow would not succeed.Speaking to reporters in St. Petersburg, Putin said the United States was trying to exert pressure on India because of its engagement with Russia, but added that it was “useless to try to pressurise Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” as per Reuters.Putin further said Russia sees no negative consequences from India’s bilateral relations with any other country and described India as a reliable partner.He underlined that India remains one of the world’s major economies and is currently witnessing strong economic growth. “India is among world’s major economies and is currently demonstrating an impressive rate of economic growth,” Putin said.The Russian President also expressed confidence that bilateral trade between India and Russia will continue to expand significantly in the coming years.“I am confident that Russia and India will reach $100 billion in bilateral trade in the coming years,” he said.He also said India is a great nation and democracy that pursues its national interests, as per news agency PTI.