India, Dec. 8 -- "Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have laid the groundwork for boosting the economic partnership between the traditional allies, with the countries signing a series of pacts to raise bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030." This is an excerpt of the media reportage from Russia's state-sponsored RT, earlier known as Russia Today, on the day Putin wrapped up his two-day visit to India. RT commemorated a special edition to the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, a tradition that dates to 2000, as President Putin launched RT India on December 5.

The point is not about the RT's report as much as the optimism and euphoria that emanated from the short visit, and which was reflected in voice...