Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, attributing the recent growth in bilateral trade turnover amid a hostile geopolitical environment directly to Modi’s “close personal attention” to relations between the two nations.

“I am pleased to note that our trade turnover has grown this year,” Putin told Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar at a Kremlin meeting. “While it decreased slightly last year, it is rising this year, and this is due in part – and perhaps above all – to the efforts of the prime minister, Narendra Modi, who gives the development of Russian-Indian relations close personal attention.”

Jaishankar had earlier co-chaired the 27th session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation, with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov in Moscow. Manturov noted in his opening remarks that bilateral trade turnover between India and Russia grew 8% in the first half of the year.

The increase comes as the two traditional friends deepen their ties amid Western attempts to isolate Russia and squeeze it economically, and as India resists finalizing a trade deal with an unpredictable US administration that has used tariffs and sanctions to enforce its geopolitical agenda.

”I would like to ask you to convey my best wishes to Mr. Modi,” Putin said, adding “I hope to see him soon, as we planned, within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.”

Modi and Putin are slated to attend the SCO Heads of State Council summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, next week.

Jaishankar delivered a personal message to the Russian president from Modi, who said he looks forward to their meeting at Bishkek. Modi also extended an invitation for Putin to attend the upcoming BRICS summit, scheduled for September 12-13 in New Delhi, to anchor their regular annual bilateral exchanges.

Putin vowed to support Indian farmers through expanded trade, adding Russia is actively ramping up fertilizer shipments to ensure reliable access for Indian agriculture. Fertilizer shipments to India from the Middle East have been disrupted by the conflict there triggered by US-Israeli attacks on Iran.

”We are doing everything to resolve this issue for Indian farmers and agriculture; we are increasing these supplies and are ready to continue doing so,” he said. “All other issues related to nuclear energy, cooperation in high-tech fields, and other areas are on the agenda, and they are all progressing quite confidently.”