Russian President Vladimir Putin will soon visit New Delhi, marking his first India visit since the start of the Russia Ukraine war three years ago. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed Putin’s India visit on Thursday adding that the preparations were underway for the same. He, however, didn’t give any specific dates.
As per Russian News agency TASS, the Russian Foreign Minister informed about the diplomatic visit saying, “President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to visit from the Indian head of government. A visit by the Russian head of state to the Republic of India is currently being prepared.”
During his visit to Moscow last year, PM Modi invited Putin to visit India which the latter has accepted and the dates are being finalised for the same.
Lavrov noted that PM Modi chose Russia for his first foreign visit after being re-elected for a third term, adding, “Now it’s our turn.”
During the bilateral talks, the two heads of the states are expected to discuss the Russia Ukraine war as well as the changing geopolitical landscape in the wake of Donald Trump’s historic comeback to the White House and his decisions ever since.
While the media and Western intellectuals have painted India’s stance as “neutral” on the Russia Ukraine War, New Delhi has maintained that it is on the side of “peace”.
PM Modi has repeatedly advised Putin that “this is not the era of war”. However, New Delhi has consistently abstained from UN resolutions condemning Russia and has refrained from publicly criticising Putin.
Furthermore, PM Modi is among the few world leaders who visited Moscow and Kyiv to meet his counterparts in the warring nations.
He also travelled to Russia’s Kazan in October for the BRICS Summit. PM Modi’s bonhomie with Putin was at the centre of attraction and it rattled the Western intellectuals.
During the Indian Prime Minister’s Moscow visit for the 22nd Russia-India summit, the two leaders shared a warm hug which was followed by a firm handshake as PM Modi arrived at Putin’s residence.
The two leaders sat for discussions over tea, watched a horse show, and the Russian President drove the Indian Prime Minister around his residence in a golf cart. The videos of these informal discussions had gone viral on social media.
Despite the Western pressure, India didn’t sour its decades-long alliance with Russia, a key supplier of defence equipment.
On the other hand, Russia, which continues to face western sanctions over the Ukraine war, has offered India oil at discounted prices.
During PM Modi’s Moscow visit last year, both the countries agreed to double bilateral trade to USD 100 billion.
