Prime Minister Narendra Modi is gearing up for an important visit to Moscow, where he will meet with President Vladimir Putin for summit-level talks on July 8 and 9. This visit, invited by President Putin, marks the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit, and it is significant as it’s Prime Minister Modi’s first trip to Russia since the Ukraine invasion in February 2022.
At the summit, leaders will explore various aspects of India-Russia relations and address important regional and global issues, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi.
This upcoming visit to Russia is PM Modi's first trip since he became prime minister for the third time, following his 2019 trip to Vladivostok for an economic forum. The annual summit between India and Russia alternates between the two countries and represents a key moment in their strategic partnership. The most recent summit took place on December 6, 2021, in New Delhi, during President Putin’s visit. PM Modi has a busy schedule in Moscow, with plenty of formal and informal discussions planned. Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, mentioned on VGTRK TV that the leaders expect extensive talks, stressing the importance of their informal conversations.
Peskov also highlighted the strong partnership between India and Russia, mentioning scheduled one-on-one and delegation-level talks at the Kremlin. He emphasized that the visit is crucial for Russian-Indian relations. He noted that Western countries are closely watching PM Modi’s visit, indicating its significance. Despite the Ukraine conflict, PM Modi has been in touch with both President Putin and President Zelensky, advocating for a resolution and noting the global relations.