PM Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin
– Photo: ANI (File)
Expansion
Describing India as an old friend of Russia, Moscow’s Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya here said his country enjoys a special strategic partnership with New Delhi. He expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia will further improve bilateral ties.
Russia took over the presidency of the UNSC
Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Nebenzya addressed a press conference on Monday on the occasion of Russia assuming the presidency of the Security Council (UNSC) for the month of July. During this, he made this remark while answering a question on the possible visit of Prime Minister Modi to Moscow.
‘Russia has special strategic relations with India’
He said, “We have a special strategic partnership with India. India is an old friend of Russia. We are cooperating in many areas and I think (during the possible visit to Russia) there will be a solid discussion on all the issues on which our (both) countries cooperate.” He said that he is not aware of what kind of outcome document his visit will have, but he is confident that it will send a serious message to other countries.
‘PM Modi’s visit will strengthen bilateral relations’
Asked what he hopes to achieve from the visit, Nebenzya said, “I hope that Russia-India relations will improve even further. India and Russia are planning PM Modi’s visit to Moscow next week for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.”
PM’s first visit to Moscow in a gap of five years
If the visit happens, it will be PM Modi’s first visit to Russia in a span of nearly five years. His last visit to Russia was in 2019, when he attended an economic conference in the Far East city of Vladivostok.
India-Russia considering tour plans
There has been no confirmation from India about Modi’s possible visit to Russia. However, a Kremlin official said last week that preparations were underway for his visit. Russian President’s assistant Yuri Ushakov had said, “I can confirm that we are preparing for the visit of the Prime Minister of India. We cannot announce the date right now, because the date is announced in the agreement of the two parties.”