Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reaffirmed their strong bilateral relationship, emphasizing trust and friendship in a phone call that came amid mounting pressure from Washington over India’s growing economic ties with Moscow.

The conversation followed Modi’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, where discussions centered on the Ukraine conflict and Washington’s increased tariffs on Indian goods.

“Relations between India and Russia have been exceptionally trustful and friendly,” Putin said during a televised government meeting after the call.

On his official X handle, Prime Minister Modi described India’s partnership with Russia as a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” pledging to continue strengthening the relationship while committing India’s readiness to support efforts toward a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict.

The United States has sought to curtail Russia’s energy revenues, which Washington and Kyiv argue are sustaining Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine. Despite these pressures, India has remained one of the largest buyers of Russian oil since Western sanctions were imposed on Moscow.

Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, tens of thousands of lives have been lost, and millions of people have been displaced, creating one of Europe’s largest humanitarian crises in recent history.