Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India this year and both sides are making the necessary preparatory moves for the upcoming tour, announced Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday (March 27, 2025).
Speaking at an event titled ‘Russia and India: Towards a New Bilateral Agenda’ hosted by Russian International Affairs Council, Mr Lavrov expressed appreciation for India’s “balanced” approach towards the Ukraine crisis . Addressing the same event, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said, India and Russia have displayed “exceptional ability” in adjusting to the evolving world order and newly emerging challenges.
“The relations between our countries have a long history. We can say that they have stood the test of time more than once. Today, Russia and India are developing equal cooperation based on sincere, mutual respect and consideration of each other’s interests. 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,” said Mr Lavrov announcing the visit of President Putin to India.
“Russian President Putin accepted the invitation of the head of the Indian government. The visit of the head of the Russian state to the Republic of India is being prepared,” Mr Lavrov announced in his remarks. This will be the first trip of President Putin to India since the beginning of the Ukraine crisis in February 2022. He had paid a short visit to India on 6 December 2021 for the 21st India-Russia annual summit. The Russian side had confirmed in December 2024 that President Putin had received an invite from Prime Minister Modi for a visit to India early in 2025.
Foreign Minister Lavrov said, India and “personally Prime Minister Narendra Modi” maintained a “balanced position on the Ukrainian crisis” seeking a solution “through dialogue”. “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,” said Mr Lavrov.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Russia during 8-9 July 2024 for the 22nd annual India-Russia summit. This was followed by his participation in the 16th BRICS summit in Kazan when he met with President Putin. Igor Ivanov, President of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), Indian ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar, Russian ambassador to India Denis Alipov and Mikhail Shvidkoy, Special Representative of the President of Russia for International Cultural Cooperation were the other participants in the event.
Speaking in the event through video-link, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said the special and privileged strategic partnership is a “shared foreign policy priority” between the two sides adding, “This relationship with deep historical roots and a long tradition of trust and mutual respect continues to expand and deepen in the backdrop of a dynamic world order.”
“Through every shift and realignment, India and Russia have demonstrated an exceptional ability and to find new opportunities for mutual benefit and for contributing to regional and global stability and prosperity,” said Mr Jaishankar explaining that India and Russia are committed to “each other’s core interests”.
Earlier on March 7, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Moscow to participate in the India-Russia Foreign Office Consultations. Mr Misri also met with Maxim Oreshkin, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Russian Presidential Executive Office, Yury Ushakov, Aide to President Putin, and Alexey Gruzdev, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade. Earlier this month India hosted Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha who participated in the Raisina Dialogue here and met with Mr Jaishankar.
Published - March 27, 2025 03:42 pm IST
