New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India on December 4-5 on the occasion of the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit, according to confirmation from the Ministry of External Affairs. The visit comes at an important moment in bilateral ties, as the two countries prepare to review their decades-old ‘Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the summit last year in Moscow.
During the two-day visit, PM Modi and President Putin are expected to hold high-level talks covering defence cooperation, energy collaboration, trade, and key geopolitical issues. The leaders will assess ongoing projects and outline future priorities to further strengthen the decades-old partnership between New Delhi and Moscow.
The summit comes at a crucial time when the global effort to lay out the road map for peace in Ukraine is gaining momentum. India has called for dialogue and diplomacy on several occasions and expressed its support for early resolution and enduring peace. Similarly, PM Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar have asserted that India will continue engaging with all stakeholders to reduce tensions.
Yet, amidst global challenges, Russia remains a very important pillar of India's foreign policy. The forthcoming summit is likely to reiterate the resilience of the India–Russia tie and chalk out new pathways for cooperation in the ensuing years.