In a message posted on the Kremlin’s website, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent congratulations to Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and emphasized the strength of the two countries’ relationship. India has come under fire from the U.S. recently for not distancing itself from Russia in the wake of the Ukraine conflict, and the Modi government has insisted that India is a sovereign nation and can associate with whomever it so chooses. Putin said in part of his message: “In the decades since your country became independent, it has achieved widely acknowledged progress in a variety of areas, including the economy, social sphere, science and technology. India by right enjoys considerable authority on the world stage, playing a constructive role in solving urgent issues on the international agenda.”