NEW DELHI: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Moscow, the Kremlin announced on Tuesday that no topics will be off-limits during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Officials have indicated that Modi and Putin will discuss a wide range of issues, including regional and global security, trade, and other key topics.
“We (Russia and India) jointly participate in integration processes, so regional affairs, regional security, and global security are always top priorities. Additionally, our bilateral trade and economic cooperation will be a central focus,” a Kremlin official stated in response to a query about the agenda for the Modi-Putin talks.
Highlighting the significance of Modi’s visit, the official emphasized the “mutual political will” between Moscow and New Delhi to enhance cooperation across various sectors.
“Given the very trusting nature of the relationship between President Putin and Prime Minister Modi, we can anticipate a comprehensive exchange of views on numerous issues,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov added.
“We will officially announce this visit later, following coordination with our Indian counterparts. I can confirm that the visit is in the final stages of preparation,” Peskov said, addressing questions about the dates for Modi’s trip to Russia.
While Modi’s visit is tentatively planned for around July 8, the final date has not yet been confirmed, with various options still under consideration.
This trip, if it occurs, will mark Modi’s first visit to Russia in nearly five years. His last visit was in 2019 when he attended an economic forum in the Far East city of Vladivostok.
Should the visit proceed, Modi and Putin will hold the India-Russia annual summit, resuming the high-level dialogue after a three-year hiatus. The annual summit, alternating between India and Russia, is the highest institutional dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two nations.
To date, there have been 21 annual summits. The last one took place on December 6, 2021, in New Delhi. President Putin has visited India nine times in his capacity as the head of the Russian state.
