Indian Premier Modi to visit Russia next week

NEW DELHI/MOSCOW

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Russia early next week, officials said on Thursday, his first since visit Moscow's "special military operation" in Ukraine in February 2022.

Modi will be in Moscow on July 8-9 at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin to attend the 22nd India-Russia annual summit, the Indian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The last India-Russia annual summit was held on Dec. 6, 2021 in New Delhi.

“The leaders will review the entire range of multifaceted relations between the two countries and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest,” the ministry said.​​​​​​​

The Kremlin also confirmed the visit, and said Modi will meet Putin and other Russian officials for several rounds of talks.

"The talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin will cover prospects for the further development of the traditionally friendly Russian-Indian relations, as well as important issues on the international and regional agenda," the statement said.

Modi will then travel to Austria from July 9-10. “This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Austria in 41 years,” the ministry said, adding that Modi will call on President Alexander Van der Bellen and will hold talks with Chancellor Karl Nehammer.

The Indian premier will also interact with the South Asian nation's diaspora community in Moscow and Vienna.

Modi’s visits follow his reelection for a third straight term. He last visited Russia in 2019 for an economic forum in the far eastern port of Vladivostok. His previous visit to Moscow took place in 2015.