Russian President Vladimir Putin maintains close ties with top leaders from two of his closes trading partners: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.Mikhail Klimentyev/AFP/Getty ImagesRussian President Vladimir Putin maintains alliances despite sanctions, keeping Russia's economy afloat.Countries like India and Vietnam balance relations with both Russia and the West.These alliances are crucial for Russia to navigate trade restrictions and economic challenges.Russian President Vladimir Putin may be heavily sanctioned and running a country that faces sweeping trade restrictions, but he still has friends.Russia's friends — or frenemies — aren't all pariah states or US rivals.