People-to-people ties ‘core strength’ of India-Russia ties - envoy

Indian Ambassador Vinay Kumar notes the enthusiasm at ‘India Day 2026’ and lists the focus areas for boosting bilateral trade

People-to-people ties between India and Russia have been one of the core strengths of the relationship, India’s Ambassador to Moscow Vinay Kumar said at the 4-day annual ‘India Day 2026’ festival in central Moscow.

The event, which started Thursday, is a major crowd puller that brings together hundreds of artists and artisans. Last year, over 2 million people attended.

”With technology and the creative economy, all of this is gaining more ground,” Kumar said.

Kumar cited the countries’ cooperation in culture, academies, dance, drama, and music, and noted the “great enthusiasm” of the crowd. “On a working day, thousands of people enjoy Indian music… and see the vibrancy it generates.”

Addressing the burgeoning cooperation between the two nations, the envoy noted some of the key drivers they are focusing on to achieve their $100 billion bilateral trade target, which was set when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited New Delhi in December.

📹 Just How Popular is Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy in Russia? See For Yourself...

RT India's karaoke booth at 'India Day 2026' saw many 🇮🇳 and 🇷🇺 participants singing to Mithun Chakraborty's famous track from the 80s. https://t.co/K55UuPkEEY pic.twitter.com/TjN2tRwvEu

— RT_India (@RT_India_news) August 21, 2026

He noted energy and minerals, metals, education and tourism have been key areas of cooperation amid Western attempts to isolate Russia economically.

India is the second-largest importer of crude from Russia, and Indian companies, especially state-owned ones, have recently reached out to Russian entities to source Indian rare earths, coal, and minerals from the country, as New Delhi seeks to secure its supply chains amid the geopolitical tensions.

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”The FTA (free trade agreement) that we are negotiating with the EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) will help to achieve the $100 billion target in bilateral trade,” Kumar said. India and five post-Soviet Republics – Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan – held a second round of talks on the FTA in Moscow in June.

Kumar said India and Russia have stepped up engagements in the run-up to the BRICS summit, which will be held in New Delhi next month. “The summit will be successful, and the Indian Presidency’s agenda will help to take cooperation to the next level.”

Putin is expected to attend the event as the bloc of emerging economies seek to assert their voice and economic heft amid Western coercion on geopolitical issues.