Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled for a two-day visit to the Russian Federation and the Republic of Austria from July 8 to July 10.
From July 8 to 9, PM Modi will be in Moscow for the 22nd India-Russia annual summit, at the invitation of the President of the Russian Federation, H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin. President Putin will host a private dinner for the PM on the day of arrival. And following that, they will discuss bilateral relations, mutual interests, and contemporary global issues, with a major focus on deepening trade and economic cooperation.
Following the Moscow visit, PM Modi will travel to Austria from July 9 to 10. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), this will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Austria in several years. The meetings in Austria will involve discussions with the President of Austria, H.E Alexander Van der Bellen and Chancellor of Austria H.E. Mr. Karl Nehammer.
PM Modi’s Visit to Russia
This will be Modi’s first trip to Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. His last visit to Russia was in 2019 for an economic conclave in the Vladivostok, and he last traveled to Moscow in 2015.Vladimir Putin last met with Modi in September 2022 at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Uzbekistan. In 2021, Putin also traveled to New Delhi and held talks with the PM Modi.
Key Themes of the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit
Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra stated during a press briefing in New Delhi on 5th July that the India-Russia relationship is viewed through a bilateral framework.
In the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit, PM Modi and Putin will discuss the conflict in Ukraine, including the issue of Indian nationals recruited by the Russian military, along with other global and regional issues. They will also address many other pending issues from the last annual summit in 2021, covering trade linkages, defense, investment ties, energy cooperation, education, science and technology.
Both leaders will assess the status of bilateral engagements in grouping including BRICS, SCO, G20, East Asia Summit and the United Nations.
In conclusion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visits to Russia and Austria aim to strengthen bilateral relations and address global challenges such as Ukraine conflict, trade, defense, investment ties.These meetings focus on India’s diplomatic efforts in cultivating bilateral relations with European partners and its approach towards global challenges.
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