PM Modi arrives in Russia - welcomed with guard of honour; Russian army plays national anthem

India-Russia Relation: PM Modi has reached Russia after 5 years. He was welcomed with a guard of honour at Vnukovo-2 International Airport in Moscow. During this, the Russian army played the tune of the Indian national anthem. Modi will participate in the 22nd India-Russia annual conference. The annual conference between the two countries started in the year 2000.

This will be the first time that Prime Minister Modi is visiting Russia after the Ukraine war. Earlier he visited Russia in 2019. Modi and Vladimir Putin last met in 2022 during the SCO Summit in Samarkand, the capital of Uzbekistan. Putin did not come to India for the G-20 conference in 2023.

This visit of Modi to Russia is taking place at a time when the NATO Summit is going to start in the US. The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a statement clarifying that Modi's visit to Russia has nothing to do with the NATO Summit. In fact, Russia has become isolated in Europe since the Ukraine war started. Meanwhile, it has got the support of China and India.

However, India wants to keep its stand neutral in the case of Russia. Despite this, the whole world, especially the western countries, will be watching Modi's visit to Russia. Modi will reach Russia this afternoon. Today he will have a private dinner with the President of Russia.

Modi's visit to Russia is happening amidst NATO summit

Modi's visit to Russia is happening at a time when NATO summit is about to start in America. The Ministry of External Affairs had to issue a statement to clarify that Modi's visit to Russia has nothing to do with NATO summit. Actually, since the Ukraine war started, Russia has been isolated in Europe. Meanwhile, it has got the support of China and India.

However, India wants to keep its stand neutral in the matter of Russia. Despite this, the whole world, especially the western countries, will be watching Modi's visit to Russia. Modi will reach Russia this afternoon. Today he will have a private dinner with the President of Russia.

Increasing trade deficit between India and Russia is an important issue

Trade between India and Russia has increased rapidly after the Ukraine war. A large part of this is of crude oil being purchased by India. In the financial year 2023-24, India bought crude oil worth Rs 45.4 lakh crore.

In the financial year 2023-24, there was a trade of Rs 54 lakh crore between the two countries. In this, India exported only Rs 3.3 lakh crore to Russia. India's Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra had told on Friday just before the visit that the two leaders would discuss the issue of inequality in trade.

There can be a discussion between the two leaders about the new trade route

There can also be a discussion on a new trade route to increase trade between India and Russia and reduce the cost involved in it. Recently, India has leased Iran's Chabahar port for 10 years.

In such a situation, India can talk to Russia about starting a new trade route through Central Asia through this port. With the help of this port, India can trade directly with Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe.