NEW DELHI: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on Thursday that President Vladimir Putin has accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation to visit India, and preparations for the visit are currently underway.
In a video address to the conference "Russia and India: Toward a New Bilateral Agenda," hosted by the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and also addressed by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said: “It is symbolic that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his first bilateral foreign visit after his re-election last year to Russia. Now, it is our turn. Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted the invitation from the Indian government. Preparations are underway for the visit of the Russian head of state to India.”
However both sides didn’t indicate any dates for the visit, maintaining that it will take place in earliest mutually convenient date.
Lavrov expressed his gratitude to India and personally to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for consistently maintaining a balanced stance on the Ukrainian crisis. He praised India for advocating a resolution through dialogue and for supporting efforts to address the root causes of the conflict.
“We fully share this approach and from the very beginning of the crisis we have been talking about Russia's openness to negotiations, which should lead to the end of the conflict and the establishment of a lasting peace by eliminating its root causes,” Lavrov said.
Describing the upcoming bilateral visit as being grounded on a solid foundation, Lavrov said, “Trade and economic cooperation is steadily growing, and we are successfully overcoming efforts by certain detractors to hinder this progress. In 2024, bilateral trade surpassed $60 billion, marking the highest result in the entire history of our modern relations.”
External Affairs Minister Jaishankar stressed the enduring strength of the India-Russia bond, pointing out that it is rooted in “deep historical ties” and a “long tradition of trust and mutual respect,” which continue to “expand and deepen in the context of a dynamic world order.”
“Through every shift and realignment, India and Russia have showcased a remarkable ability to adapt and discover new opportunities for mutual benefit, contributing to regional and global stability and prosperity,” he added. The minister also highlighted the importance of frequent high-level exchanges and robust institutional mechanisms in their diplomatic engagement, along with a strong commitment to each other’s core interests.
While recognising the traditional pillars of their partnership, such as energy, defense, and civil-nuclear cooperation, Jaishankar also pointed to emerging areas of collaboration, including trade, technology, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, connectivity, and the digital economy, describing these as "new points of collaboration."