Calling Putin’s trip “a very important visit”, Shashi Tharoor said the Russian President’s presence in India “has great value for our country”.
As Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in India on a two-day state visit on Thursday, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor highlighted the significance of the visit, saying it is a reaffirmation of India’s long-standing ties with Russia while asserting that deepening these ties does not come at the expense of India’s relations with any other country.
Calling Putin’s trip “a very important visit”, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said the Russian President’s presence in India “has great value for our country”, describing the Moscow–New Delhi relationship as an important pillar of India’s foreign policy. In a turbulent global environment, he said, it was essential for India to stabilise and strengthen partnerships that have historically served its national interests.
“It’s a very important visit, I do believe that his visit has a great value to our country. It’s an important relationship we have with Russia. President Putin is an important partner, we look forward to welcoming him,” he said as quoted by news agency PTI.
VIDEO | As Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in India on a state visit, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) says, “It’s a very important visit, I do believe that his visit has a great value to our country. It’s an important relation we have with Russia. It does… pic.twitter.com/Xazl4BIrCZ
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 4, 2025
Tharoor further stressed that deeper engagement with Moscow does not undermine India’s ties with any other nation, including, United States, China and Europe.
“No one should misunderstand that this will affect our relationships with other countries, because India has the capacity to have independent relationships with different governments. We are a nation that has always believed in sovereign autonomy,” he added.
Reiterating India’s long-held diplomatic doctrine, Tharoor said “sovereign autonomy is a cardinal principle of Indian foreign policy”, asserting that New Delhi will continue to maintain “strong relations with all”.
Highlighting the practical value of the relationship, Tharoor emphasised recent years where Russian cooperation — particularly in oil, gas and defence — has been crucial. He cited Operation Sindoor as an example, saying the Russian-made S-400 system had played a decisive role in intercepting several Pakistani missiles targeting major cities, “including Delhi”.
“The value of defence imports from Russia was demonstrated once again during Operation Sindoor when the S-400 protected us from a number of Pakistani missiles that were targeting our cities, including Delhi,” he said as quoted by news agency ANI.
#WATCH | Delhi | On Russian President Vladimir Putin’s India visit, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, “It’s hugely significant. It is a crucial relationship, and has been for a long time. In today’s rather turbulent world, where so many relationships have become uncertain, it… pic.twitter.com/5voE1sTVjX
— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2025
Tharoor said any agreements that emerge during President Putin’s visit would be part of “strengthening a vital relationship” — one that, in his view, does not undermine India’s partnerships with Washington, Beijing or any other global actor.
Earlier today, Tharoor stressed that India must sustain its bilateral relationships with Russia, China and the United States. He added that New Delhi cannot accept the idea that one partnership should be shaped or limited by the nature of another. India, he insisted, should retain its sovereign autonomy to define the terms of its engagement with every country.
“I believe that we have maintained good relations with Russia, with America and with China. At different times, there are different emphases. But I would say that my understanding is a lot of talks have already taken place at the expert level to work out some possible agreements that might be signed when President Putin is here. And that would be very valuable for us,” he said as quoted by news agency PTI.