Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit India soon, with preparations already underway, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The confirmation came on Thursday as Lavrov stated that Putin has accepted an invitation from the Indian government.
“Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to visit from the Indian head of government,” Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian news agency Tass. “A visit by the Russian head of state to the Republic of India is currently being prepared.”
Lavrov highlighted the recent diplomatic exchanges between India and Russia, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Russia in July 2024 for the first time in nearly five years. “Now it’s our turn,” Lavrov remarked. Modi’s visit to Moscow earlier this year included high-level discussions with the Russian leadership, during which he extended an invitation to Putin to visit India.
The Russian foreign minister made the announcement during a video address at a conference hosted by the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), titled “Russia and India: Toward a New Bilateral Agenda.”
While the exact dates for Putin’s visit have yet to be announced, Tass had earlier reported in February that there was a “high probability” of an Indian leader attending Russia’s annual military parade in Moscow’s Red Square, which commemorates the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
Putin last visited India in December 2021 for an annual summit, and this upcoming trip will be his first since the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The visit is expected to further strengthen Indo-Russian ties across key areas, including defense, trade, and strategic partnerships.
Sources By Agencies