During the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that any attempts to undermine India's sovereignty through sanctions would backfire under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasized that India, as a sovereign nation, has the right to choose defense products that best meet its needs, including Russian systems like the Sukhoi Su-57 stealth jet and the S-500 air defense platform. Putin highlighted the historical relationship between Russia and India, noting that it is built on mutual trust and collaboration, particularly in defense. He recalled Modi's previous experience with US sanctions, stating that the relationship between the US and India has since improved. Despite ongoing supply chain disruptions due to the Ukraine conflict, which have prompted India to diversify its military procurement strategy, Putin reaffirmed Russia's commitment to its partnership with India, including ongoing joint projects like the BrahMos missile. He also mentioned that while Russia had proposed a joint development program for the Sukhoi Su-57, it has since moved forward independently with the project.