Russian President Vladimir Putin offered India uninterrupted fuel supplies on Friday, eliciting a cautious response even as he and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to expand trade and defence ties between countries with decades-old ties.

The PM noted that global growth is currently around 3%, while the G7 countries are growing at only about 1.5% on average.

On Thursday evening, Mr Putin was received by the Indian prime minister in a rare greeting at an airport in New Delhi’s Palam, who gave the visiting leader a bear hug and a tight handshake with the gusto of an old friend. The agenda for the talks include discussions on collaboration on defence, energy and labour mobility.

President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi for his first state visit to India since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, showcasing warming ties that have angered the US and led to hefty trade tariffs.

PM Narendra Modi Saturday said India was witnessing a “psychological renaissance” as it shook off the slavery mindset, which was reflected in its slow pace of development being termed as Hindu rate of growth,