India’s Modi departs for Moscow on first Russia trip since war in Ukraine

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed New Delhi for Moscow on Monday (July 8), on his first trip to Russia since the war in the Ukraine in February 2022, Reuters reports.

 

On his 2-day visit, Modi is set to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of annual summits between New Delhi and Moscow, launched in 2000.

 

Fixing India’s trade imbalance with Russia and securing the discharge of Indians misled into fighting in the Ukraine war will be among Modi’s priorities during the talks, a top official said on Friday (July 5).

 

Modi’s visit coincides with the July 9-11 NATO summit in Washington at which the Ukraine war will hold centre stage, and the timing has raised questions about the signal India could be sending.

 

India has refrained from criticising Russia over its war in Ukraine and urged the neighbours to resolve their conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, while increasing purchases of cheap Russian oil to record levels.