Moscow, On his first trip since the start of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday began a high-profile two-day visit to Russia for summit talks with President Vladimir Putin aimed at promote bilateral relations in areas of energy, trade and defense.
Modi was received at the airport by Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. The Russian first deputy minister also accompanied the Indian prime minister to his hotel from the airport in the same car, officials said.
Manturov also received Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Russia. It is Modi's first trip to Russia since 2019, the first after the start of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022 and the first in Modi's third term as prime minister. .
Russian President Putin will host a private dinner for Modi tonight ahead of Tuesday's talks at the 22nd India-Russia summit in Moscow.
"The Prime Minister will hold substantive talks with President Vladimir Putin to boost the special partnership between the two countries. He will also interact with the Indian community in Russia," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on 'X'.The Indian Prime Minister received a guard of honor at the airport. He was greeted outside his hotel by a group of Russian artists who danced to Hindi songs.
In his exit statement, Modi said India seeks to play a supporting role for a peaceful and stable region.
After concluding his engagements in Russia on July 9, Modi will leave for Austria in the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to that country in more than 40 years. The Modi-Putin summit talks are expected to focus on further boosting bilateral cooperation in trade, energy and defense. The Ukraine conflict will surely figure in the discussions.
"The special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia has advanced in the last 10 years, including in the areas of energy, security, trade, investment, health, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges," Modi said. in his exit statement.
"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," he said. "We seek to play a role in supporting a peaceful and stable region," he said without making specific references. .
New Delhi has been firmly defending its "special and privileged strategic partnership" with Russia and maintained momentum in ties despite the Ukraine conflict.
India is yet to condemn Russia's attack on Ukraine and has consistently advocated for resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. The prime minister said the visit will also give him an opportunity to meet the vibrant Indian community in Russia.
In a post on 'X', Modi, before leaving for Moscow, said: "For the next three days, you will be in Russia and Austria. These visits will be a wonderful opportunity to deepen ties with these nations, with whom India has time". proven friendship."
Ahead of Modi's visit to Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the agenda will be "extensive." "Obviously the agenda will be extensive, not to say overloaded. It will be an official visit and we hope that the heads of government will be able to also talk informally," he said.
In the talks, Modi is expected to urge Russia to end the recruitment of Indians as support personnel for the Russian army and ensure the return home of those still operating in the force.
The annual summit between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Russia is the highest institutional dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two countries. The annual summits are held alternately in India and Russia.
The last summit was held on December 6, 2021 in New Delhi. President Putin had visited India to attend the summit.
At the summit, both sides sealed 28 MoUs and agreements, besides issuing a joint statement titled "India-Russia Partnership for Peace, Progress and Prosperity".Prime Minister Modi and President Putin last held bilateral talks time on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 16, 2022.
At the meeting, Modi pressured Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine saying that "the current era is not one of war."
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Modi has had several telephone conversations with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Modi was received at the airport by Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. The Russian first deputy minister also accompanied the Indian prime minister to his hotel from the airport in the same car, officials said.
Manturov also received Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Russia. It is Modi's first trip to Russia since 2019, the first after the start of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022 and the first in Modi's third term as prime minister. .
Russian President Putin will host a private dinner for Modi tonight ahead of Tuesday's talks at the 22nd India-Russia summit in Moscow.
"The Prime Minister will hold substantive talks with President Vladimir Putin to boost the special partnership between the two countries. He will also interact with the Indian community in Russia," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on 'X'.The Indian Prime Minister received a guard of honor at the airport. He was greeted outside his hotel by a group of Russian artists who danced to Hindi songs.
In his exit statement, Modi said India seeks to play a supporting role for a peaceful and stable region.
After concluding his engagements in Russia on July 9, Modi will leave for Austria in the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to that country in more than 40 years. The Modi-Putin summit talks are expected to focus on further boosting bilateral cooperation in trade, energy and defense. The Ukraine conflict will surely figure in the discussions.
"The special and privileged strategic partnership between India and Russia has advanced in the last 10 years, including in the areas of energy, security, trade, investment, health, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges," Modi said. in his exit statement.
"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," he said. "We seek to play a role in supporting a peaceful and stable region," he said without making specific references. .
New Delhi has been firmly defending its "special and privileged strategic partnership" with Russia and maintained momentum in ties despite the Ukraine conflict.
India is yet to condemn Russia's attack on Ukraine and has consistently advocated for resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. The prime minister said the visit will also give him an opportunity to meet the vibrant Indian community in Russia.
In a post on 'X', Modi, before leaving for Moscow, said: "For the next three days, you will be in Russia and Austria. These visits will be a wonderful opportunity to deepen ties with these nations, with whom India has time". proven friendship."
Ahead of Modi's visit to Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the agenda will be "extensive." "Obviously the agenda will be extensive, not to say overloaded. It will be an official visit and we hope that the heads of government will be able to also talk informally," he said.
In the talks, Modi is expected to urge Russia to end the recruitment of Indians as support personnel for the Russian army and ensure the return home of those still operating in the force.
The annual summit between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Russia is the highest institutional dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two countries. The annual summits are held alternately in India and Russia.
The last summit was held on December 6, 2021 in New Delhi. President Putin had visited India to attend the summit.
At the summit, both sides sealed 28 MoUs and agreements, besides issuing a joint statement titled "India-Russia Partnership for Peace, Progress and Prosperity".Prime Minister Modi and President Putin last held bilateral talks time on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 16, 2022.
At the meeting, Modi pressured Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine saying that "the current era is not one of war."
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Modi has had several telephone conversations with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
