“You Cannot Ignore The Indian Elephant”: Russia Says Ties With India Go Far Beyond Defence

In a special India Today Exclusive, Geeta Mohan speaks with Vasily Pushkov, Director of International Cooperation at Rossiya Segodnya / Sputnik, who explains why India–Russia ties go far beyond defence. Pushkov says the partnership is rooted in decades of uninterrupted cooperation, from Soviet times to today, and doesn’t need a “specific reason” to survive. Using the metaphor of the Indian elephant, he describes India as a steadily rising power the world can’t ignore. Panel insights highlight that while defence and energy built the past, the future lies in joint manufacturing across IT, pharma, tech and textiles as Putin’s India visit pivots Russia firmly toward Asia.