Chess legend Garry Kasparov, a staunch critic of Russia president Vladimir Putin, on Friday sounded off a warning to India PM Narendra Modi about trusting Putin, who he said “would sell out Modi and the entire Indian nation at any time to prolong his dictatorship”. This was after Modi had posted a tweet about his and Putin’s conversation about strengthening the India-Russia ties.
“Had a very good and detailed conversation with my friend President Putin. I thanked him for sharing the latest developments on Ukraine. We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. I look forward to hosting President Putin in India later this year. @KremlinRussia_E” Modi posted on X.
Kasparov quote-tweeted that post and said, “Your friend Vladimir Putin? The genocidal war criminal? Your friend who would sell out you and the entire Indian nation at any time to prolong his dictatorship by one more hour? With friends like that, who needs democracy? Trump is a clown, but stand for something better.”
Your friend Vladimir Putin? The genocidal war criminal? Your friend who would sell out you and the entire Indian nation at any time to prolong his dictatorship by one more hour? With friends like that, who needs democracy? Trump is a clown, but stand for something better. https://t.co/OiwCZsAkDf
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) August 8, 2025
Amid the tension in ties with the US after President Donald Trump doubled the tariff on India over its purchase of Russian oil, Modi and Putin held a phone conversation on Friday during which they discussed “the latest developments on Ukraine” and “reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership”.
Modi said he looked forward to hosting Putin in India later this year. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who travelled to Moscow this week and met Putin, had also said that the President would be visiting India.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, issued a statement indicating a likely meeting between Putin and Trump next week over the war in Ukraine.
The Modi-Putin conversation took place three days after Russia criticised Trump’s tariff action and backed India’s right to choose its trading partners. “Sovereign countries have the right to choose their own trading partners,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
