PM Modi, Putin to review whole range of bilateral ties: Foreign Secy

Ajay Banerjee

New Delhi, July 5

India today brushed aside the coincidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are meeting in Moscow around the time the US-led NATO would be meeting on increasing help to Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said, “We look at the relationship with Russia as a bilateral relation. We attach great importance to our relations with Russia. The annual summit has not been held since 2021. There are significant agenda items to be discussed.”

Kwatra said in Modi’s meet in Moscow on July 9, the issue of early discharge of Indian nationals who have been misled into the service of the Russian Army is expected to figure in the discussions,” he said. In response to a question, he said 10 Indian nationals who were working for the Russian Army have been brought back while around 45 Indians are still working for the force. India has strongly taken up the matter with the Russian authorities to ensure their speedy repatriation to India.

Putin will hold a private dinner for Modi. He will have restricted talks with Putin, followed by delegation-level talks. A whole range of issues will be on the agenda of the two leaders. Kwatra said India’s position on the war is well-known: dialogue and diplomacy is the way forward.

He said, “Defence cooperation is important and large sub domains remain under discussion and the supply of S400 air-defence missiles is one of that.” Indo-Russian Rifles Private Ltd, registered and located in India, has transferred 35,000 AK-203 assault rifles to the Indian Ministry of Defence.