Prime Minister Narendra Modi has departed for Moscow on Monday, July 8, where he will be meeting his “friend” Russian President Vladimir Putin in his own country for the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The Indian PM last visited Russia in 2019.
“The Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia has advanced over the past ten years, including in the areas of energy, security, trade, investment, health, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges,” PM Modi said in a departure statement before embarking for Russia on Monday morning.
“I look forward to reviewing all aspects of bilateral cooperation with my friend President Vladimir Putin and sharing perspectives on various regional and global issues. We seek to play a supportive role for a peaceful and stable region. The visit will also provide me an opportunity to meet the vibrant Indian community in Russia,” PM Modi further said.
Why PM Modi is visiting Russia
Prime Minister Modi’s trip to Russia is at the invitation of Putin to hold the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit.
The annual summit between India and Russia is the highest institutional dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two nations.
Apart from the summit, PM Modi and Putin will review the entire range of multifaceted relations between India and Russia and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest during their meeting.
The Russian President will also be hosting a lunch for PM Modi and delegations.
PM Modi will also be visiting an exhibition centre in the VDNKH Complex, Rosatom Pavilion.
Prime Minister Modi will also be addressing a gathering of the Indian diaspora in Russia.
In an announcement, the Kremlin said PM Modi’s visit mentions the nature of the “traditionally friendly Russian-Indian relations,” further development of which the two leaders plan to discuss. Other topics of the conversation include “current issues of international and regional agenda.”
Modi-Putin will have ‘informal talks’
In an interview with Russia’s state-run VGTRK television channel, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the program of PM Modi in Moscow will be “extensive” and both the leaders will be able to have “informal talks”.
“Obviously, the agenda will be extensive, if not to say overbusy. It will be an official visit, and we hope that the heads will be able to talk in an informal way as well,” Peskov said, adding that the Kremlin is expecting a “very important and full-fledged” visit, “which is so crucial for Russian-Indian relations.”
Peskov stated that the Russia-India relations are at the level of “strategic partnership” and went on to say that there would be both one-on-one talks in the Kremlin and those involving delegations.
West ‘closely & jealously watching Modi’s Russia visit’
Peskov also alleged that the West is closely and jealously watching PM Modi’s Russia visit on July 8 and 9.
“They are jealous – that means they are closely monitoring it. Their close monitoring means they attach great importance to it. And they are not mistaken, and there is something to attach great importance to,” TASS quoted Peskov as saying.
When Modi-Putin met last
The last time PM Modi met in person with Putin was in September 2022 in Uzbekistan, at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization bloc.
When India-Russia Annual Summit was held last
The leaders of India and Russia have held annual summits since 2000 but the last in-person meeting was held in 2021.
The 21st bilateral Summit was held in December 2021 when Putin visited New Delhi.
The meeting had been due in Moscow in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine, but it did not take place. Also, it did not take place in 2023 due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and due to PM Modi’s diplomatic engagements and India’s G20 Presidency.
How many times Modi and Putin have met?
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), over the past 10 years, PM Modi and Putin have met 16 times.
India-Russia trade
The bilateral trade between India and Russia in FY 2023-24 stood at a record high of over $65.70 billion.
It is also worth mentioning that Russia has consistently expressed support for India’s candidature for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
With inputs from agencies
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