Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday termed Russia as India's "all-weather friend" and hailed President Vladimir Putin’s leadership in strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two major powers over the past two decades.

The prime minister's praise of Putin, during an address to the Indian diaspora in Moscow, came amid attempts by Western powers to isolate the Russian leader over the war in Ukraine.

"On hearing the word Russia, the first word that comes to mind of every Indian is India's all-weather friend (sukh-dukh ka saathi) and a trusted ally,” Modi said during a two-day visit to Russia, his first since the Ukraine war broke out more than two years ago.

“No matter how low the temperature has dipped below minus during Russian winters, the India-Russia friendship has always remained in the 'plus' territory; it is full of warmth. This relationship is built on the strong foundation of mutual trust and mutual respect,” the Indian premier said.

Modi said he had a special appreciation for “his friend” President Putin for steering India-Russia friendship to greater heights over the last two decades.

The prime minister said that for a long time the world has seen an “influence-oriented global order. But, what the world needs right now is confluence not influence and no one can deliver this message better than India which has a strong tradition of worshipping confluences,” Modi added.