On Thursday, Russia confirmed that President Vladimir Putin would soon visit India in response to an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was extended during his visit to Moscow last year. This will be Putin’s first visit to India since the onset of the Ukraine war in 2022.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov mentioned that preparations for the visit were underway, though he did not provide specific dates. “President Vladimir Putin has accepted the invitation from the Indian head of government,” Lavrov stated. He also noted that PM Modi had chosen Russia as his first foreign destination after being re-elected for a third term, adding, “Now it’s our turn.”

During the visit, Putin and Modi are expected to discuss the ongoing Ukraine conflict and the broader geopolitical shifts, particularly after Donald Trump assumed office as US President.

India has maintained a neutral position on the Ukraine war. PM Modi has repeatedly told Putin that “this is not the era of war” while also refraining from condemning Russia publicly. India has abstained from voting on UN resolutions against Russia, further indicating its neutral stance.

In 2024, PM Modi was one of the few world leaders to visit both Moscow and Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Additionally, he attended the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, in October. During his 2022 visit to Moscow for the 22nd Russia-India summit, the camaraderie between Modi and Putin was evident, with the two leaders sharing a warm hug, followed by a firm handshake upon Modi’s arrival. Videos of the two chatting over tea, watching a horse show, and Putin driving Modi around in a golf cart quickly went viral.

India and Russia share a long-standing alliance, with Russia serving as a major supplier of defense equipment to India. Amid Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict, Russia has also provided discounted oil to India. During Modi’s visit to Moscow last year, both countries agreed to work toward doubling bilateral trade to USD 100 billion.