Narendra Modi makes first visit to ally Russia since the start of its war on Ukraine
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Russia for two days starting Monday, marking his first trip there since the onset of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. This conflict has strained the historical relationship between the two allies and drawn Russia closer to India's rival, China.
During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will meet with President Vladimir Putin in the far eastern port city of Vladivostok. The leaders last met in Russia in 2019, with another meeting occurring in Uzbekistan in September 2022 at a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit.
India and Russia have maintained strong ties since the Cold War, and India's role as a crucial trading partner has only grown since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Both China and India have emerged as significant purchasers of Russian oil, following sanctions from the United States and its allies that have cut off many Western markets from Russian exports.
Under Modi's leadership, India has refrained from condemning Russia's actions in Ukraine, instead calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Despite their partnership, the relationship between Moscow and New Delhi has become more complex as Russia has developed closer ties with China amid the Ukraine conflict.
Trade between India and Russia has surged, reaching nearly $65 billion in the 2023-24 financial year, driven largely by strong energy cooperation, according to Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra. Of this, imports from Russia amounted to $60 billion, while Indian exports to Russia were $4 billion.
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