Putin To Visit India For Annual Summit Next Year, Says Moscow

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit India next year for the annual summit between the two leaders, said former Russian Ambassador to India and Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov.

This will be Putin’s first visit to India since Russia launched an offensive on Ukraine in February 2022.

“Our leaders have an agreement to hold meetings once a year. This time, it’s our turn. We received Modi’s invitation and we will certainly consider it positively. We will figure out the tentative dates early next year,” Ushakov said at a press briefing.

This annual exchange underlines the strong diplomatic ties between the two nations

Modi’s diplomatic finesse is well-regarded globally, but his rapport with Putin stands out. In 2024, Modi and Putin met twice— first during Modi’s two-day visit to Moscow for the Russia-India summit, and later at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia.

These interactions underscore a relationship that transcends mere formalities, particularly in the current global geopolitical climate. Amid Russia’s tensions with Western nations over the Ukraine war, India has maintained its neutral stance, becoming the largest buyer of Russian oil even as many nations imposed sanctions on Moscow.

The complexity of India’s balancing act over Ukraine was starkly evident during Modi’s visit to Moscow for the 22nd India–Russia Annual Summit from 8–9 July 2024.

Hours before Modi’s arrival Russian missiles targeted Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital, drawing global condemnation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy criticized Modi’s meeting with Putin, calling it “a devastating blow to peace efforts.”

During the dinner, Modi reportedly made his most direct appeal for peace, telling Putin, “There is no solution on the battlefield.”

He visited Kyiv soon after, in efforts to balance India’s strategic ties with Russia while navigating the complex international response to the Ukraine war.

During the recent BRICS Summit encounter, Putin remarked on the depth of their relationship, saying, “Our relationship is so strong that you will understand me without any translation.”

This candid acknowledgment reflects the privileged strategic partnership the two nations share.

It also highlights how India, with its careful diplomacy, has emerged as a key ally to Russia in challenging times, strengthening its global diplomatic footprint while navigating complex international waters.