Kathrine Frich
During Putin’s recent visit to India an unexpected moment drew notice online.
Russia and India have maintained a long history of political, economic and military cooperation, stretching from the Cold War through to modern partnerships in energy and defence.
Their ties have remained largely steady, even as the war in Ukraine reshaped Moscow’s relations with much of the world.
India has positioned itself carefully, continuing dialogue with Russia while expanding its own global role.
Public appearances by their leaders often attract attention for what they reveal about the relationship.
Unusual presentation
During the launch of Russia Today in India, editor in chief Margarita Simonyan presented Vladimir Putin with a decorative vase.
She said that she had purchased the vase in a local store.
A video of the exchange was posted on X by Ukrainian politician Anton Herashchenko.
The object depicted Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky and carried the inscription “325 years of the unification of Ukraine with Russia,” written in Ukrainian.
Bohdan Khmelnytsky was a 17th century Cossack leader whose 1654 agreement with Moscow is viewed by Russian historians as the moment Ukraine entered political union with Russia.
Simonyan explained her decision by saying, “I couldn’t resist buying it and giving it to you. From us, from the TV station.”
Putin’s reaction
Putin thanked her for the gesture and remarked that he receives many valuable gifts.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later noted that the president keeps another symbolic item at home, an icon given to him by soldiers on his birthday.
The moment gained attention partly because of the Ukrainian text on the vase, which appeared during a period of intense conflict and competing narratives over Ukrainian identity.
Profile of the presenter
Simonyan is widely known as a central figure in Russian state messaging.
According to reporting by Ukrainian outlets, her newsroom receives substantial state funding to amplify government narratives about the war.
She has repeatedly argued that Ukrainians are not a separate nation and supported the annexation of Crimea and the separatist movements in Donbas.
In 2022, she said Russia was not waging a war, or even a “special operation,” but intervening in what she described as a civil conflict.
She has also warned that countries attempting to arrest Putin could face nuclear retaliation.
Click to display external content from twitter,
– You can always enable and disable third-party content.
You agree to display external third-party content. Personal data may be sent to the provider of the content and other third-party services.
Sources: O2.pl, Anton Herashchenko (X)
