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Russian President Vladimir Putin used his India Today interview to underline that the India-Russia partnership is anchored in national interest, not in rivalry with any third country, even as Washington turns increasingly confrontational toward both capitals, India Today reported. 

Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening for a two-day summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Hours before their meeting, the Russian leader defended the trajectory of the relationship and pushed back at the United States' pressure. "Neither I nor Prime Minister Modi, despite certain external pressures we face, have ever approached our collaboration to work against someone," he said when asked about Washington's aggressive approach, according to India Today. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday presented a Russian edition of the Bhagavad Gita to President Vladimir Putin, calling the sacred text a source of inspiration for millions across the world, India Today reported. 

Modi shared the moment on X, posting a photograph in which both leaders are seen holding the book during their meeting in Delhi.

“Presented a copy of the Gita in Russian to President Putin. The teachings of the Gita give inspiration to millions across the world,” the Prime Minister wrote, underlining the scripture’s universal appeal, according to India Today. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has questioned Washington’s stance on India’s oil purchases from Moscow, pointing to US imports of Russian nuclear fuel as he began a state visit aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations, Aljazeera reported.

Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening to a warm airport reception from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who embraced the Russian leader in a rare gesture that underscored their personal rapport.

The visit comes as India faces mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has imposed punitive tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhi’s purchases of discounted Russian crude, according to Aljazeera.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday, aiming to boost trade with the top buyer of Russia’s arms and seaborne oil as Western sanctions squeeze their decades-old ties, Reuters reported.

Putin is on his first visit to India in four years at a time when New Delhi is engaged in talks with the U.S. for a trade deal to cut punitive tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on its goods over India’s Russian oil purchases.

Moscow has been India’s top arms supplier for decades and has said that it wants to import more Indian goods in an effort to grow trade to $100 billion by 2030 that so far has been skewed in its favour due to New Delhi’s energy imports, according to Reuters.

The leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda have signed a peace deal aimed at ending the long-running conflict in the region at a summit hosted by US President Donald Trump in Washington, BBC reported. 

Ahead of the summit, there was an escalation in fighting in resource-rich eastern DR Congo between government forces and rebels believed to be backed by Rwanda. 

DR Congo's army accused its rivals of attempting to "sabotage" the peace process, but the M23 rebels said the army had launched an offensive in breach of a ceasefire, according to BBC.

Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief until 2019, has resigned from a leading role in Belgium after she was detained for questioning and accused in connection with an anti-corruption investigation, BBC reported. 

The investigation, ordered by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), related to suspected fraud involving the award of an EU-funded training for junior diplomats to the College of Europe.

Ms Mogherini, 52, was head of the highly regarded institute based in Bruges. She was questioned this week along with another staff member at the college and a senior official from the European Commission, Stefano Sannino, according to BBC.

The Israeli military has carried out a new round of air strikes in southern Lebanon, less than a day after Israel and Lebanon held their first direct talks in decades, BBC reported. 

Residents of the towns of Mjadel, Baraachit, Jbaa and Mahrouna were told to evacuate areas around locations that the Israeli military alleged were weapons warehouses belonging to the Iranian-backed group. No casualties have been reported.

An Israeli military spokesman said the sites constituted a ceasefire violation and warned that it would continue to operate "to remove any threat" to Israel, according to BBC.

President Vladimir Putin has warned again that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from Ukraine's eastern Donbas region or Russia will seize it, rejecting any compromise over how to end the war in Ukraine, BBC reported.

"Either we liberate these territories by force, or Ukrainian troops will leave these territories," he told India Today. Moscow controls around 85% of Donbas.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out ceding territory, according to BBC.