Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Moscow this evening, marking his first visit to Russia since the country launched its campaign in Ukraine. Upon arrival, he was welcomed by Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov.
“I look forward to further deepening the special and privileged strategic partnership between our nations,” PM Modi stated after landing in Moscow. He is scheduled to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin tomorrow.
Ahead of the 22nd India-Russia summit in Moscow, President Putin will host a private dinner for PM Modi tonight. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal mentioned on X, “PM is set to hold substantive discussions with President Vladimir Putin to take forward the special partnership between the two countries. He will also interact with the Indian community in Russia.”
PM Modi’s visit highlights his balancing act between maintaining a longstanding relationship with Moscow and strengthening security ties with Western nations. This visit is also his first international trip since being re-elected for a third term.
Before departing India, PM Modi said, “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. We seek to play a supportive role for a peaceful and stable region.”
Russia remains a crucial supplier of affordable oil and weapons to India. Western powers have increasingly courted India as a counterbalance to China’s growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region, while urging India to distance itself from Russia.
PM Modi last visited Russia in 2019 and hosted President Putin in Delhi in 2021, just weeks before Russia’s offensive against Ukraine began. Despite the conflict, India and Russia have maintained close ties dating back to the Cold War, with Russia being a primary arms supplier to India for many years. However, the ongoing conflict has strained Russia’s arms supplies, reducing its share of Indian arms imports significantly.
Concurrently, India has emerged as a major buyer of Russian oil, providing Moscow with a critical export market after traditional European buyers imposed sanctions. This shift in energy trade has saved India billions of dollars while bolstering Russia’s war economy. According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, India’s imports of Russian crude increased by eight percent in May, reaching the highest levels since July 2023.
Following his visit to Moscow, PM Modi will travel to Vienna, marking the first visit to the Austrian capital by an Indian leader since former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1983.
