A close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin met today with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi to discuss the "common interests" of the two countries, Russian media reported, quoted by BTA.

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Russian invasion of Ukraine 10035

Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the influential Security Council, was in India for a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a regional group that includes Russia, India, China and a number of other Central Asian countries.

Since invading Ukraine, Russia has taken diplomatic measures to increase the influence of non-Western geopolitical blocs and forums in Asia as an alternative to attempts by the US and its NATO allies to dominate the region.

Russia and China have agreed to expand their security cooperation

While calling for peace in Ukraine, India is benefiting from the effects of the war on global energy prices.

Delhi buys oil that Moscow is forced to sell at a discount due to Western sanctions.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said yesterday that Russian oil sales to India had jumped 22 times last year.

Patrushev and Modi discussed "issues of Russian-Indian bilateral cooperation and mutual interest," Russia's Security Council said in a report cited by Russian news agencies after the meeting, without giving further details.

Russian invasion of Ukraine

Russia

India

Narendra Modi

Nikolai Patrushev