PM Modi to Meet President Putin in Russia, Discuss India-Russia Ties

Astana, Kazakhstan – External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced that the economic relationship between India and Russia has grown significantly. He highlighted the importance of the upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin as a great opportunity to discuss the ties between the two nations.

Jaishankar emphasized the need to resume the annual summit between New Delhi and Moscow, calling it a good way to review the relationship. He represented India at the SCO Summit held in Astana under Kazakhstan’s presidency.

Jaishankar stated, “There was a bit of a delay in our annual summits, it is a good tradition, we are two countries which have a strong history of working together. We did value the need for an annual summit. Last year when I went to Moscow, I carried a message from the PM that we are committed to the annual summit and we will do it sooner rather than later…it is a regular recurrence. It is a way of taking stock of any relationship.”

He added, “One of the big changes has been, that our economic relationship with Russia has grown tremendously…at the leadership level, it will be a great opportunity for PM Modi and (Russian) President Putin to sit down and directly talk to each other.”

Prime Minister Modi will visit Russia and Austria from July 8-10. He will be in Moscow from July 8-9 at the invitation of President Putin to hold the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. The two leaders will review the entire range of multifaceted ties between India and Russia. After Russia, PM Modi will travel to Austria from July 9-10, marking the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Austria in 41 years.

Jaishankar also raised the issue of Indians stranded in the conflict zone in Russia during his meeting with Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. He stressed that it is unacceptable for Indian citizens to find themselves in the army of another country in a warzone. He added that New Delhi needs a much stronger follow-up from Moscow.

Jaishankar said, “Absolutely…very clearly and strongly… several Indians have been pressed into services with Russian Army, only when they come back we will know the full circumstances. But, whatever the circumstances are, to us it is unacceptable that Indian citizens find themselves in the army of another country in a warzone.”

He further highlighted that the Ministry of External Affairs is already in talks with the Russian Defence Ministry and will continue to take up the issue until all Indians stranded there return. “I told him (Lavrov) that we seek their cooperation and that they are our friend and partner. We have to find a way so that these people can return to India as quickly and effectively as possible,” Jaishankar said.

Notably, around 20 others were allegedly duped into fighting for the Russian Army in the war against Ukraine on the pretext of lucrative jobs. At least two Indians have died. The MEA confirmed in April that among the Indian nationals working as support staff in the Russian Army, 10 have returned to India.

Earlier this year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) busted a major human trafficking network targeting Indian nationals with promises of lucrative jobs abroad but allegedly sending them to the Russia-Ukraine war zone.

Speaking on his meetings with other counterparts, Jaishankar said some were courtesy meetings, while others were more detailed. He added that several ministers extended their best wishes for PM Modi securing a third consecutive term. “With some people, it was courtesy (meeting) and with some, it was a more detailed (meeting)…many of the Central Asian leaders, they gave me a chance to sit down and talk to them about our relationship. I also had the privilege of having a conversation with the Emir of Qatar…there were different people present there…one thing all of them told me was to convey to PM the best wishes and congratulations for his 3rd term and that they’re looking forward to the next opportunity to meet him and express that in person,” Jaishankar further said.