In Moscow, President Vladimir Putin will hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, both individually and with delegations, a senior Russian official said on Monday.
"At noon, Putin and Modi will start talking. We hope there will be a private conversation, as well as talks between Russia and India during an official breakfast," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to state news agency TASS. .
On Tuesday, Modi will co-chair the 22nd annual India-Russia summit with President Putin.
However, the two leaders will not make any statements to the press afterwards, the Kremlin spokesman added.
"No joint communication with the media is planned," he said. "But we expect a broad exchange of views in both the closed and extended sessions, which will largely compensate for the lack of statements to the media."
Speaking about the expected informal meeting between Putin and Modi this afternoon, the Kremlin spokesperson did not clarify where exactly it will take place. He also did not mention Ukraine in the upcoming talks.
"Before the meeting it will hardly be possible to talk about it. We will keep you informed about all the details," the Kremlin spokesman said.
"Today the leaders will speak informally and the official part of the visit, the official talks, will take place tomorrow," he said.
Asked if Moscow had prepared any surprises for the Indian leader, the Kremlin spokesman said: "Our task is not to prepare surprises but to create an atmosphere for a substantive conversation."
Modi arrived here on Monday on his first trip to Russia since the start of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
The focus of the 22nd annual India-Russia summit is likely to boost bilateral cooperation in the areas of energy, security, trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges. The Ukraine conflict will surely figure in the discussions.
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.
The annual summit between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Russia is the highest mechanism of institutional dialogue 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 noon, Putin and Modi will start talking. We hope there will be a private conversation, as well as talks between Russia and India during an official breakfast," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to state news agency TASS. .
On Tuesday, Modi will co-chair the 22nd annual India-Russia summit with President Putin.
However, the two leaders will not make any statements to the press afterwards, the Kremlin spokesman added.
"No joint communication with the media is planned," he said. "But we expect a broad exchange of views in both the closed and extended sessions, which will largely compensate for the lack of statements to the media."
Speaking about the expected informal meeting between Putin and Modi this afternoon, the Kremlin spokesperson did not clarify where exactly it will take place. He also did not mention Ukraine in the upcoming talks.
"Before the meeting it will hardly be possible to talk about it. We will keep you informed about all the details," the Kremlin spokesman said.
"Today the leaders will speak informally and the official part of the visit, the official talks, will take place tomorrow," he said.
Asked if Moscow had prepared any surprises for the Indian leader, the Kremlin spokesman said: "Our task is not to prepare surprises but to create an atmosphere for a substantive conversation."
Modi arrived here on Monday on his first trip to Russia since the start of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
The focus of the 22nd annual India-Russia summit is likely to boost bilateral cooperation in the areas of energy, security, trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges. The Ukraine conflict will surely figure in the discussions.
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.
The annual summit between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Russia is the highest mechanism of institutional dialogue 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.
