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Russia is the time tested, all weather and traditional friend of India and she has stood by India in thick and thin .Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking this relationship and friendship of India and Russia to new heights and is taking all efforts to strengthen it for the good of the two countries. PM Modi has paid his maiden to Russia after assuming office of Prime Minister for the third time in succession and Modi and Valdimer Putin has inked nine agreements in the interest of the two countries .India and Russia discussed ways to further shore up bilateral cooperation in sectors such as energy ,trade ,manufacturing and fertilizers .Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow ,Russia on July 9,2024 .Prime Minister Modi on July 8 began a high-profile visit to Russia and held the 22rd India-Russia annual summit with President Vladimir Putin, in his first trip since the start of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Russian President hosted a private dinner for the Indian Prime Minister at the former’s residence on the outskirts of Moscow. Besides other important bilateral issues, the Ukraine conflict also came up during Mr Modi’s talks with Putin. Modi told Putin that a solution to the Ukraine conflict is not possible on the battlefield and that peace talks do not succeed amidst bombs ,guns and bullets .Earlier in the day President Putin thanked Prime Minister Modi for trying to help find a peaceful solution to the Ukraine crisis .Modi was on July 9 officially conferred the ‘Order of St Andrew the Apostle award by President Putin for his contribution to fostering bilateral ties between the two countries .The award was announced in 2019.Modi departed for Austria after a fruitful two-day visit to Russia during which the two countries discussed ways to further shore up bilateral cooperation in various important sectors.PM Modi announced 2 new Indian consulates in Russia.PM Modi has announced that India will set up two new consulates in the Russia cities of Kazan and Yekaterinberg. Russia has promised to discharge Indians who were falsely induced to join its army ,an issue Prime Minister Modi raised at talks with President Putin .India has been seeking the release of its nationals whose families say they were lured to Russia by the promise of ”support jobs ”in the army ,and were later forced to into active combat in Ukraine .”The Prime Minister strongly raised the issue of early discharge of Indian nationals who have been misled into the service of the Russian Army ,”The Russian side had promised the early discharge of all such people .India and Russia target dollar 100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030,and agreed on a joint statement ,vision statement for economic and trade cooperation in Russia’s Far East .The two countries also signed MOU’s on climate change ,polar research ,legal arbitration ,investment promotion ,pharmaceuticals ,etc .Putin thanked PM Modi for trying to help resolve Ukraine crisis .Putin said ,”I am grateful to you for the attention you paid to the most pressing issues ,particularly trying to find ways to resolve the Ukraine crisis ,primarily through peaceful means .”Prime Minister Narendra Modi was officially conferred the ‘Order of St Andrew the Apostle’ award by Russian President Vladimir Putin for exceptional services in promoting bilateral ties between the two countries .Established in 1698 by Tsar Peter the Great in honor of Saint Andrew ,the first apostle of Jesus and patron saint of Russia ,the Order of St Andrew the Apostle is the highest state decoration of Russia. Russia is exploring a long -term oil deal with India .
Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting between Russian President Putin and Indian Prime Minister Modi in Moscow ,Mr Novak said Russia was also looking at different options for gas supplies to India.PM Modi emphasizes peace over conflict in talks with Putin highlighting India’s commitment to global peace and stability.PM Modi said he had productive discussions with President Putin at Kremlin .”Talks covered ways to diversify India-Russia cooperation in trade, commerce ,security, agriculture ,technology & innovation ,”he said. ”We attach great importance to boosting connectivity and people -to -people exchanges ”Mr Modi said after talks with Putin. PM Modi visits photo exhibition dedicated to India -Russia cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy.PM Modi said energy is an important pillar of cooperation between India and Russia and New Delhi is eager to further cement ties in this sector with Moscow as he visited the Rosatom Pavilion along with President Putin .Modi witnessed a photo exhibition dedicated to India-Russia cooperation in the field of civil nuclear energy at the Rosatom Pavilion at VDNKh ,inaugurated in November 2023.
It is one of the largest exhibitions in the history of scientific and technological developments .Putin tells Modi their nations have special strategic partnership .Russian President Vladimir Putin told visiting Indian Prime Minister Modi that their countries enjoyed a special strategic partnership and thanked him for his efforts to find a peaceful solution to Ukraine war.PM Modi said ,”I believe there is no peace on the battlefield and solution to the war must be found through dialogue .
We spoke frankly and sensed a new thinking from our talks, ”PM Modi told Putin ,”India is in favor of peace, and I want to tell the international community that after may talks with my friend Putin I am filled with hope in this .”I am confident that our ties will see further strengthening in coming years said PM Modi in opening remarks in talks with President Putin .”I am happy that we both could put across or individual views on Ukraine in yesterday’s meeting ,”PM Modi told Putin. There are few signs Modi ,the leader of the world’s largest democracy ,plans to challenge Putin directly over his actions in Ukraine .Instead ,the Indian leader appears to have engaged Moscow as part of a wider balancing act between East and West that has been at the core of his foreign policy .Ahead of his departure for Moscow ,Modi noted the partnership with Russia had advanced over the past 10 years ,and he looked forward to reviewing all aspects of bilateral cooperation with his friend Putin. ”We seek to play a supportive role for a peaceful and stable region ,”Modi added ,without clarifying .Statements by the Kremlin were similarly sanguine ,saying that Modi’s visit would built on ”traditionally friendly Russian-Indian relations. ”Modi was greeted by a goose stepping honor guard upon arrival at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport Monday afternoon .Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov ,who had worked with an Indian -Russia aeronautics company in the past ,greeted him on the tarmac .Russia and India have strong ties that date back to the height of the cold war .In a partnership that often blurred ideological lines ,the Soviets provided weapons to India as both countries found a common threat in the rise of their neighbor China .Fast forward to today and much has changed .
The United States is now one of India’s major partners and India’s military needs have diversified.
India has refused Western entreaties ,including by Washington ,to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine-with Modi instead urging a vague diplomatic settlement to the conflict. In short the more recent visit of PM Modi to Russia will result in strengthening of bilateral ties and cooperation between India and Russia.
(The author is a columnist, social and KP activist)
