India’s PM Modi to Visit Russia and Austria from July 8-10

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on an official visit to Russia and Austria between July 8 and 10, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.

“Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will pay an official visit to the Russian Federation and the Republic of Austria on 08-10 July 2024,” an official release by the MEA read.

The Prime Minister will be in Moscow on July 8 and July 9, at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin, to hold the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit.

“The leaders will review the entire range of multifaceted relations between the two countries and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest,” the ministry said.

Notably, this will be PM Modi’s first trip to Russia ever since it launched its military offensive and invaded its neighbour Ukraine in February 2022. His last visit to Russia was in 2019 when he attended an economic conclave in the Far East city of Vladivostok.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin said that deepening trade and economic cooperation would be one of the key themes of the meeting between PM Modi and Vladimir Putin during the latter’s visit.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet with Vladimir Putin to discuss further development of the traditionally amicable relations between Russia and India, as well as pressing international and regional issues,” the Kremlin said.

Putin had last met PM Modi in September 2022, at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Uzbekistan. In 2021, Putin also traveled to New Delhi and held talks with PM Modi.

After concluding his summit in Russia, PM Modi will travel to Austria during July 9 and July 10, making the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the European nation in 41 years, after Indira Gandhi in 1983.

In Vienna, PM Modi will call on Austria President Alexander Van der Belle and hold talks with the country’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer. Later, PM Modi and Nehammer will also address business leaders from the two nations.