Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Embark on Two-Day Moscow Visit for Summit-Level Talks with President Vladimir Putin.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a two-day visit to Moscow on Monday for summit-level discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This visit marks PM Modi’s first trip to Russia since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi announced the high-level visit, noting that PM Modi will be in Moscow from July 8 to 9 at the invitation of President Putin for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. The summit aims to review the “entire range of multifaceted relations between the two countries and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest,” according to the MEA.
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This visit is significant as it is PM Modi’s first to Russia in nearly five years. His last visit was in 2019 when he attended an economic conclave in Vladivostok, in Russia’s Far East. The upcoming visit underscores the importance both nations place on their strategic partnership despite global tensions and geopolitical shifts.
The last in-person bilateral meeting between Modi and Putin occurred in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in September 2022. During that meeting, Modi famously told Putin, “this is not the era of war,” a sentiment echoed by other world leaders at the G20 summit in Bali in November 2022, pressing Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine.
The Moscow talks are expected to cover a wide array of topics, including defense cooperation, energy security, and trade relations. Both leaders will likely discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with Modi reiterating India’s stance on the importance of diplomacy and dialogue to resolve disputes.
India and Russia share a longstanding and multifaceted relationship, with deep-rooted cooperation in various sectors such as defense, nuclear energy, and space. The summit provides an opportunity for both leaders to reinforce their commitment to this partnership and explore new avenues for collaboration.
Observers will be closely watching the outcomes of this visit, particularly in the context of the Ukraine conflict and its broader implications for global politics. The visit will also be a test of India’s diplomatic balancing act, as it maintains strong ties with both Russia and Western nations amid increasing global polarization.
