“West Watching With Jealousy’: Kremlin On PM Modi’s Russia Visit

In a significant development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a two-day visit to Moscow from July 8 to 9, marking his first trip to Russia since the country’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The visit, at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin, is expected to be a “very important and full-fledged” summit-level meeting, with the Kremlin stating that the West is closely monitoring the trip with a sense of “jealousy”.

According to Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the agenda for the visit will be extensive, with the two leaders set to review the multifaceted relations between India and Russia, as well as exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. The programme will include both formal and informal talks, with Peskov emphasizing that the visit is crucial for Russian-Indian relations, which are at a strategic partnership level.

The visit will also see one-on-one talks between Modi and Putin, as well as meetings involving delegations. Peskov noted that the West is closely watching the trip, with their close monitoring indicating that they attach great importance to it. “They are jealous - that means they are closely monitoring it. Their close monitoring means they attach great importance to it. And they are not mistaken, there is something to attach great importance to,” he said.

India’s relationship with Russia has been a subject of interest in recent times, particularly with the country’s significant import of discounted Russian crude oil despite the G7 price cap and growing concerns in Western capitals. India has maintained that the conflict in Ukraine must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue, and has not condemned Moscow’s invasion of the country.

Modi’s visit to Russia will be his first in nearly five years, with his last trip to the country being in 2019 when he attended an economic conclave in Vladivostok. The annual summit between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Russia is the highest institutional dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two countries, with 21 such summits having taken place alternately in India and Russia so far.

The last annual summit was held on December 6, 2021, in New Delhi when Putin visited India. The upcoming visit is expected to be a significant development in the bilateral ties between India and Russia, with both countries looking to strengthen their relationship in various areas.

Historical Context:

The current tensions between Russia and the West, particularly the United States and its allies, stem from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. This invasion has led to widespread international condemnation and economic sanctions against Russia. India, on the other hand, has maintained a neutral stance on the conflict, refusing to condemn Moscow’s actions and instead emphasizing the need for diplomacy and dialogue to resolve the issue.

In recent times, India has been under scrutiny for its significant imports of discounted Russian crude oil, despite the G7 price cap and growing concerns in Western capitals. This has led to speculation about India’s relationship with Russia and its potential implications for the country’s ties with the West.

The annual summit between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Russia is a significant institutional dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two countries. The last summit was held in December 2021, when Putin visited India. Modi’s upcoming visit to Russia will be his first in nearly five years, with his last trip to the country being in 2019 when he attended an economic conclave in Vladivostok.

Summary in Bullet Points:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a two-day visit to Moscow from July 8 to 9, marking his first trip to Russia since the country’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. • The visit is at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin and is expected to be a “very important and full-fledged” summit-level meeting. • The agenda for the visit will be extensive, with the two leaders set to review the multifaceted relations between India and Russia, as well as exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. • The programme will include both formal and informal talks, with Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasizing that the visit is crucial for Russian-Indian relations, which are at a strategic partnership level. • The West is closely monitoring the trip, with Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating that they are “jealous” and attach great importance to it. • India’s relationship with Russia has been a subject of interest in recent times, particularly with the country’s significant import of discounted Russian crude oil despite the G7 price cap and growing concerns in Western capitals. • Modi’s visit to Russia will be his first in nearly five years, with his last trip to the country being in 2019 when he attended an economic conclave in Vladivostok. • The annual summit between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Russia is the highest institutional dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two countries, with 21 such summits having taken place alternately in India and Russia so far. • The upcoming visit is expected to be a significant development in the bilateral ties between India and Russia, with both countries looking to strengthen their relationship in various areas.