Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a visit to Russia, met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on the margins of the 21st session of India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Cooperation on Tuesday. The two leaders noted that the India-Russia partnership holds immense potential and that combined efforts will pave the way for remarkable outcomes, a defence ministry statement said. 


A video showed the two leaders meeting at Kremlin, shaking hands, and posing for photographs. The Indian defence minister shared a photo with the Russian President and wrote on X: "Glad to call on the Russian President Mr Vladimir Putin at Kremlin in Moscow." 


During the meeting, Rajnath Singh said that the friendship between India and Russia is "higher than the highest mountain and deeper than the deepest ocean." He further told Putin that India has always stood by its Russian friends and will continue to do so in future.






The defence minister also conveyed warm greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President Putin.


Rajnath Singh discussed various issues of bilateral defence cooperation, the defence ministry said in a statement. "Both leaders expressed that partnership between both countries holds immense potential and combined efforts will pave the way for remarkable outcomes," a government statement said.


Rajnath Singh called on Putin after co-chairing the 21st session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military and Military Cooperation along with his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov. 


"Had a very productive IRIGC-M&MTC meeting with my Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov in Moscow. Reviewing the full range of bilateral defence ties, we discussed ways to deepen cooperation between both the countries. We are committed to further strengthen India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership," Rajnath said in a post on X.


The Indian defence minister, who is on a three-day visit to Russia, also attended the commissioning ceremony of INS Tushil, the latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate, in in Kaliningrad, Russia.