Underlining the time-tested ties between the two countries, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday extended New Year greetings to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also said the G-20 and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) presidencies will open new opportunities for forging multi-dimensional ties between India and Russia.
Making this gesture, Putin emphasised the importance of relying on strong traditions of friendship and mutual respect as Russia and India celebrated their 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2022.
He also said in his letters to Murmu and Modi the two nations will continue to forge their privileged strategic partnership and implement significant trade and economic projects as well as energy and military technology initiatives.
"I am confident that India's recently started SCO and G20 presidencies will open new opportunities for building multi-dimensional Russia-India cooperation for the benefit of our peoples, in the interests of strengthening stability and security in Asia and the entire world," the Russian President said.
Russia’s New Year greetings to India is significant since Putin reportedly will not be sending such messages to France, Germany and the US this year. According to the Kremlin, Putin will not be sending his New Year's wishes to US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, or German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. As a result of Putin's attack on Ukraine, the said nations have imposed unprecedented sanctions on Moscow.
Earlier, on Wednesday, UK Ambassador to India Alex Ellis wished India a "Happy New Year" and said that the relationship between the two countries has become stronger this year.
In the video message, posted on his Twitter account, Ellis said, "2022 was a great year for India and the UK, and this year UK and India have made their relationship more strong."
Talking about the economic relationship, Ellis said India and UK have launched the Free Trade Agreement negotiations this year.
"Secondly, on climate change and sustainability, we have been supporting India's rapid transition toward a green economy for example, investment in the Mahindra EV Company. Thirdly, on health, building on the great work of Covishield, we now have Ebola vaccines manufactured in India with UK technology going to Africa," Ellis said.