Russia is “thoroughly” planning President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to India before the end of the year, TASS news agency reported on Monday, citing Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
“We are thoroughly preparing for the Russian president’s upcoming visit to India before the end of the year, as well as our annual summits,” Lavrov said during a meeting with students and faculty at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO).
Lavrov indicated that Russia and India have “big plans” across political, economic, social, cultural, and military-technical areas — plans that were discussed by the two countries’ leaders during their meeting in China.
Last week, PM Narendra Modi told Vladimir Putin that India and Russia stood side by side even in difficult times.
“Even in the most difficult situations, India and Russia have always walked shoulder to shoulder,” Modi said on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in China’s port city of Tianjin.
“Our close cooperation is important not only for the people of both countries but also for global peace, stability and prosperity,” he added.
“Russia and India have maintained special relations for decades, friendly and trusting. This is the foundation for the development of our relations in the future,” Putin said.
The growing relations between Russia and India comes at a time when the United States has imposed steep 50% tariffs on Indian products and openly criticized New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
