Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on an official visit to Moscow on July 8-9, as confirmed by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra. The visit comes at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. Modi's itinerary includes a private dinner hosted by President Putin upon his arrival in Moscow on Monday afternoon.
Kwatra highlighted the ongoing engagement between Modi and Putin, noting their last informal meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in 2022, and subsequent telephonic conversations. The 21st summit took place in New Delhi in December 2021, followed by a meeting in Samarkand during the SCO summit in September 2022.
"On July 9, Prime Minister Modi will engage with the Indian community in Russia and visit the Kremlin," Kwatra further announced. "He will also lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and attend an exhibition in Moscow as part of the scheduled events."
The visit will feature a series of engagements, starting with restricted-level talks between Modi and Putin, followed by delegation-level discussions. The discussions will encompass a comprehensive review of the extensive bilateral relations between India and Russia.
Modi's visit underscores the strategic partnership and close ties between the two nations, spanning various sectors including defence, trade, energy, and cultural exchanges. The annual summit aims to strengthen these ties further and explore new avenues of cooperation in line with the Indo-Russian strategic partnership.