Ties between India and Russia have developed dynamically despite the difficult international situation in the world, President Vladimir Putin has said in his New Year message to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Incidentally, Putin met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar last week  during the latter’s visit to Moscow and invited Modi to visit Russia next year. "We will be glad to see our friend, Prime Minister Modi in Russia," Putin told Jaishankar. So far, 21 annual summits have taken place alternatively in India and Russia. The last summit took place in New Delhi in December 2021.

Meanwhile, his New Year message said, “The messages addressed to President of the Republic of India Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister of the Republic of India Narendra Modi note that, despite the difficult international situation, the special and privileged strategic partnership between Russia and India continues to develop dynamically: In the outgoing year, trade has been growing at an exceptionally high rate and joint projects in various areas have been successfully implemented."

Putin also stressed the cooperation between the two countries to develop multifaceted bilateral ties and coordinate efforts to strengthen security and stability at the regional and global levels.

The document said "Putin praised the results of India's chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the G20 and stressed his conviction that Moscow and New Delhi will continue to develop multifaceted bilateral ties and effectively coordinate efforts to strengthen security and stability at the regional and global levels.".

In addition, Vladimir Putin extended Christmas and New Year greetings to several former foreign heads of state and government, including Belarus, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Brzail , South Africa, Turkey and many others.

On December 28, Putin met Jaishankar who was on his formal visit to Moscow from December 25 to 29 as a part of the ongoing high-level exchanges between the two sides. During the meeting, Putin emphasised the positive stance of Modi on complex global developments, including the situation in Ukraine.

"We know the stance of Prime Minister Modi and we mentioned that repeatedly on many occasions. Well, his attitude towards some complex developments, including the flashpoints like...in Ukraine," he noted.

The Russian President mentioned that he has advised Prime Minister Modi on the developments in Ukraine multiple times and indicated that further discussions on the matter would take place.

"Many times, I advised him of how things have been going there and I know that he (PM Modi) is willing to do his utmost so that the issue is resolved by peaceful means. So, we probably will delve into that deeper now, and we will give additional information to you on that time," Putin added.

The Russian President also expressed gratitude for the progressing relationship between Russia and India amid global turmoil. "We are gratified to note that despite all the turmoil happening worldwide, the relationship with our true friend in Asia, India has been progressing incrementally," Putin said.

India has all along maintained that the Ukraine conflict must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue. Russia's military action in  Ukraine began in February 2022.

Since then, Modi has spoken to Putin as well as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Modi also met Zelenskyy in Japan during the G7 summit in May 2023.

In the meeting, Modi assured that he would do whatever was possible to help resolve the conflict.  "India and I will do whatever we can to resolve the conflict," Prime Minister Modi said. He also told Putin "now is not an era of war."