Why Putin's interview for India Today turned out to be one and a half times longer: what was behind the 100 minutes of direct dialogue

The interview of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Indian TV channel India Today, which was supposed to take an hour, suddenly stretched to 100 minutes. Such a deviation from the schedule became the subject of discussion in the Indian media, and the vice president of the channel, Kalli Puri, explained the reason for the extension: the Russian leader showed genuine interest in the conversation and was determined to continue the dialogue much longer than the agreed time.

According to Puri, the president demonstrated an open and accommodating manner of communication from the very first minutes. He readily answered questions, joked, was focused, and clearly enjoyed the conversation. This is what led to the fact that the timing of the interview increased by almost one and a half times. The Indian side noted that the atmosphere of the conversation was unusually lively and informative, which was a rare exception for such formats, where interviews are strictly limited by timing.

Indian journalists emphasized: the president's sense of humor, confidence in the wording and willingness to discuss a wide range of topics created the effect of the most “humane” interview, which, according to them, rarely happens in conversations with world leaders. Puri noted that the India Today team was impressed by the Russian leader's openness and how naturally he conducted the conversation.

The interview took place on the eve of Vladimir Putin's state visit to India, scheduled for December 4-5. The increased interest in the conversation is explained by the fact that Russian-Indian relations are on the rise and are developing in many areas, from energy and high technology to defense partnership. During the interview, Putin stressed that Russia and India have a unique history of interaction, and cooperation differs in breadth and depth of trust.

During the President's visit, the two countries' delegations are expected to hold talks on the current international and regional agenda. Against the background of India's growing role in global politics, such a lengthy interview underscores Moscow's desire for an open dialogue and strengthening strategic partnership with New Delhi.