- So why is Putin doing this ?
When the conflict started, the entire West imposed sanctions on Russia. These sanctions are more extensive than those on Iran, North Korea, and Iraq combined. The West even sanctioned countries doing business with Russia, aiming to isolate Russia geopolitically. Despite this, Russia's GDP data is higher than that of the US and almost all European countries. With Modi, Russia is trying to showcase to the West that they are not alone.
- Why did Modi receive a grander welcome than Xi?
Russia's biggest trading partner is China, and the West claims that Russia has become China's puppet, suggesting that without China, Russia's economy would collapse. Recently leaked Chinese military documents show that China still claims the disputed area between Russia and China belongs to China. Russia wants to send a message to China that they are not fully dependent on them and that China shouldn't push the limits, even in their dreams