Russia Expects PM Modi Visit for Annual Summit, Signals Strong Bilateral Ties

Moscow, March 2026 : Russia is expecting Narendra Modi to visit later this year for the annual India-Russia summit, according to remarks by Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko reported by local media on Tuesday.

Speaking to Russia’s state news agency TASS, Rudenko noted that it is Russia’s turn to host the bilateral summit this year. He expressed hope that the Indian Prime Minister would accept the invitation extended by Vladimir Putin and visit the country at a mutually convenient time.

Rudenko emphasised the importance of maintaining regular and structured engagement between the two nations, describing such interactions as “very important” for sustaining the depth of the India-Russia partnership across various levels.

The anticipated visit follows a series of high-level exchanges between the two countries in recent years. In December last year, President Vladimir Putin paid a State Visit to India, where he held extensive discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit included summit-level talks, ceremonial engagements and multiple bilateral meetings focusing on defence cooperation, energy security, trade and regional stability.

During the visit, both leaders reviewed the progress of the India-Russia partnership, which has completed 25 years since it was formally designated a Strategic Partnership. The discussions culminated in the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, where the two sides issued a joint statement outlining priorities for future cooperation. Key areas included energy, nuclear power, defence collaboration, trade expansion and technological development.

As part of the engagements, Droupadi Murmu hosted a state banquet for President Putin at Rashtrapati Bhavan, underscoring the warmth of bilateral relations.

Prime Minister Modi also maintained an active diplomatic calendar with Russia in 2024, visiting the country twice. He attended the 22nd India-Russia Summit in July and later participated in the BRICS Summit 2024 held in Kazan in October.

Russia continues to be one of India’s most longstanding and reliable partners. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, bilateral ties have evolved significantly since the signing of the Strategic Partnership agreement in 2000, expanding cooperation across political, defence, economic, scientific and cultural domains. In 2010, the relationship was further elevated to a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” reflecting its growing depth and significance.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)