He also called India a country of great potential, with a large population, a projected GDP growth of over 7 percent, and growing high-tech exports.
“As for the work of the G20, without any doubt that is the success of the Indian presidency and personally for PM Modi, that was a success. The Indian leadership was able to find…balance, including in the declaration,” said the Russian President while speaking at an event in Sochi, Russia.
Putin was attending the 20th annual meeting of Moscow-based think tank Valdai International Discussion Club, on from 2 to 5 October. During his opening address at the event, Putin called India a country that acts independently on the global stage but faces risks from the West.
“I would like to say that the Indian leadership is independent and strongly nationally oriented,” he said. “They (the West) try to portray those who are not willing to blindly follow these Western elite groups as enemies. They have used this approach with various countries, including China, and tried to do this to India in certain situations,” he added.
His remarks came on the same day a Russian missile attack struck the village of Hroza in northeastern Ukraine, killing over 50 people.
The event was attended by 140 experts, politicians and diplomats from 42 countries across Eurasia, Africa, North and South America.
Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed the West for trying to cast as an enemy those who are unwilling to follow their lead and praised India for being self-directed and "acting independently"https://t.co/HDmFew4NPB pic.twitter.com/F9W52Yauhf
— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 5, 2023
India-Russia ties. Putin: "The West is trying to create an enemy out of everyone who does not agree with their monopoly, everyone is at risk--even India...Attempts to turn India away from Russia are pointless, India is an independent state."https://t.co/a3ZzJ3KD48
— Derek J. Grossman (@DerekJGrossman) October 6, 2023