An increasingly isolated Vladimir Putin left Russia for only the second time during the pandemic last December. His destination was New Delhi and his focus was on preparing for future conflicts.
Moscow works with New Delhi in the “military and technical sphere like with no other country”, the Russian president told Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, calling India “a time-tested friend” as the leaders signed a new 10-year defence co-operation agreement.
The friendship would be challenged just eight weeks later when Russian troops stormed Ukraine, sending India scrambling to rescue more than 15,000 nationals, mostly students studying in the country.