forthcoming Moscow trip for India's Modi, according to Russian media reports
Plans underway for Modi's trip to Moscow, with dates to be revealed soon, as announced by Kremlin spokesperson Yuri Ushakov, as reported by Russia's state-owned TASS news agency.
"I can verify that we're prepping for a visit by the Indian Prime Minister," Ushakov said, according to TASS. "I can't reveal the dates yet, since they're decided upon mutually. But we're definitely getting things ready. And this visit will go down."
CNN reached out to India's Ministry of External Affairs for comment.
This forthcoming journey will mark Modi's first visit to the country since 2019 and follows shortly after his tight victory in the elections, held over a series of weeks.
Modi last crossed paths with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Uzbekistan in 2022, where Modi told Putin that the present era implies eschewing warfare. Putin had also visited New Delhi scarcely before his unprovoked attack on Ukraine.
India's rapport with Russia stems back to the Cold War and has remained robust despite continuous sanctions imposed by Western governments on Moscow.
India has consistently refrained from voting against Russia at the United Nations and has held back from openly criticizing Moscow's actions in Ukraine.
India heavily depends on Russia for its military hardware - a crucial aspect, owing to India's ongoing tension at its shared Himalayan border with China - and has stepped up purchases of inexpensive Russian crude oil, providing a substantial financial boost to Putin's country as it faces widespread isolation.
Meanwhile, India's relationship with the United States has strengthened, with shared anxieties over China's aggressive behavior in the Indo-Pacific region.
Modi met with US President Joe Biden during a visit to Washington last June, reinforcing their defense, trade, and technology relationship. During that trip, Modi addressed Congress, a privilege usually reserved for close US allies and partners, attended a lavish state dinner, and further fortified their bond.
Putin, on the other hand, chose to skip the Group of 20 leaders' summit in New Delhi last year, during which leaders issued a joint statement slamming his invasion of Ukraine.
India is a part of the Quad security grouping, which also includes the US, Japan, and Australia, and holds a position at both the SCO and the BRICS table, a partnership that includes Russia and China.
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Modi's upcoming trip to Moscow will undoubtedly have implications for India's relationship with the world.India's strong ties with Russia have allowed it to continue purchasing inexpensive Russian crude oil, providing a crucial financial boost, even as many other countries have imposed sanctions on Moscow.
