Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing for his first visit to India since the commencement of the Russia-Ukraine war. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced the visit, stating that the official dates will be revealed soon, with preparations already in progress.
This visit follows two trips made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russia earlier this year. Peskov said that President Putin’s impending trip underscores the robust diplomatic relationship between India and Russia, and the Kremlin is looking forward to the event. It is anticipated that Putin may participate in the Russia-India Annual Summit scheduled for next year.
In 2023, PM Modi visited Russia on two occasions, the latest being on October 22 for the BRICS Summit. His earlier visit in July included a two-day trip where he formally invited President Putin to India.
Putin’s last official visit to India occurred on December 6, 2021, which lasted only four hours but resulted in the signing of 28 agreements, including significant military and technical pacts. Both nations had set an ambitious goal of reaching $30 billion (approximately Rs 2.53 lakh crore) in annual bilateral trade by 2025, highlighting their economic collaboration.
This upcoming trip is particularly significant as Putin has largely refrained from international travel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him in March 2023. The warrant accuses him of war crimes, specifically relating to allegations of child abduction and forced deportation during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
This marked a historic moment, as it was the first time the ICC issued an arrest warrant against a leader of a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The UNSC’s permanent members include the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France.
Due to this warrant, Putin has missed several recent global events, including the 2023 G20 Summit in India and the 2024 G20 Summit in Brazil, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov representing him at these gatherings.
As the final dates for Putin’s visit are awaited, there is growing anticipation regarding the potential outcomes of this high-level engagement, which could influence the future of India-Russia relations.
