Putin calls India ‘great power’, Modi says friendship with Russia is a ‘constant’ despite challenges

New Delhi: India and Russia on Monday signed 28 agreements and MoUs, including the pact to manufacture AK-203 rifles in the country, but were unable to finalise the military logistics sharing agreement, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said after several rounds of high-level meetings capped by a summit meeting between visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Our agreements in various sectors will facilitate India-Russia cooperation further. Our defence cooperation is being further strengthened through co-development and co-production under the ‘Make in India’ programme,” noted PM Modi. Both sides had not only cooperated with each other without any hesitation, but had also taken special care of each other’s sensitivities, the PM said. Putin said Russia saw India as a great power and a time-tested friend.