Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia today

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches Russia on the afternoon of July 8, he will dine with Russian President Vladimir Putin at his home in Novo Ogarevo, a suburb of Moscow. It is an “extraordinary and significant” gesture by Putin that will give the two leaders a chance to meet in person a day before the summit in the Kremlin. Modi’s visit, along with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, is expected to revive bilateral ties that have been in crisis since Russia’s attack on Ukraine two years ago. “The Tribune” had published news regarding Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Russia.

Former Indian Ambassador to Russia Venkatesh Verma said that the Prime Minister’s visit is diplomatic because there are some permanent things in this strategic partnership. Despite global changes, the resources required for strategic partnerships remain stable and solid. He said that both the countries know that their interests are similar from geopolitical point of view.

“The joint statement is being finalized before the prime minister’s return,” said Zamir Kabulov, a senior Russian Foreign Ministry official. It can also be called a ‘vision document’, which aims to present the bilateral relations ‘with a vision of mutual cooperation and development for the next decade or more.’ In an exclusive interview with this reporter in Moscow recently, Kabulov said the Indian Prime Minister’s visit is not about signing agreements but about blueprints for future cooperation. He said Russia hopes that India will not try to strengthen ties with any other country like the US “at the expense of Russia”. Apart from further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries, the Prime Minister can also emphasize on the safe return of Indian citizens fighting in the Russian Army. India’s Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar confirmed to journalists that the Indian Embassy in Moscow is making every possible effort to bring back the bodies of Tejpal Singh and another Indian as soon as possible. Let us tell you that recently Tejpal Singh, a resident of Amritsar, and another Indian citizen were killed in a fight in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhian. Ambassador Vinay Kumar told ‘The Tribune’ that he has a list of about 50 Indian citizens who have joined the Russian army. Two Indians, including Tejpal Singh, have unfortunately died during the war in Ukraine and they have started the process of bringing their bodies back to their homeland.