Moscow, Russia

The Kremlin weighed in on the final details of a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Russia as it said on Tuesday (Jul 2) that deepening trade and economic cooperation would be one of the key themes of the visit, news agency Reuters reported. 

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The Indian prime minister is heading to Moscow next week for talks with President Vladimir Putin. A visit, that is likely to anger the West, will be PM Modi's first to Russia since the Kremlin’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. 

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This is also PM Modi's first bilateral visit after securing a third consecutive term in office. He will hold talks with President Vladimir Putin. 

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The Indian authorities and the Kremlin have yet to announce the dates of the visit. But a Russian state news agency reported last month that the visit would take place in July. 

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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: "I can only confirm once again that the visit is in the final stage of preparation. A very important visit." According to Peskov, regional security and global security issues were always high on the agenda of such meetings. 

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"In addition, our trade and economic cooperation is also one of the main issues that is being discussed, the most diverse areas of cooperation that we intend to develop, for which there is mutual political will," he said. 

"This is the main thing," Peskov said, further adding that both leaders had a "very trusting" relationship. 

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As quoted by Bloomberg, Swasti Rao, an associate fellow at Manohar Parrikar Institute For Defence Studies and Analyses, a Defence Ministry-backed research group in New Delhi, said: "The deepening of the strategic alignment between Russia and China is uncomfortable for New Delhi because it’s like your best friend sleeping with the enemy." 

"Given that we have these concerns it makes sense for the prime minister to go there and talk to Putin at the highest level," Rao added. 

(With inputs from agencies)