Putin meets Indian PM in Russia on his first visit after Moscow sends troops to Ukraine

MOSCOW (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Moscow on Monday for a two-day visit, his first since Russia sent troops to Ukraine, complicating relations between the longtime partners and prompting Russia to step down from Ukraine. Pushed closer. India’s rival China.

Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin at his residence outside Moscow, followed by talks in the Kremlin on Tuesday. Modi later visited Russia in 2019, when he attended a forum in the remote eastern port of Vladivostok and met Putin. The leaders also looked at each opportunity to meet at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Group bloc in Uzbekistan in September 2022.

Modi posted photos of his arrival in Moscow in both Russian and English on social media platform X and announced that he looked forward to “further deepening the special and privileged strategic partnership between our countries.”

“Stronger ties between our countries will greatly benefit our people,” he wrote. He also shared a picture of himself and Putin hugging.

At the closest, the two leaders were featured in a video shared by the Kremlin at Putin’s residence in Novo-Ogaryovo near Moscow.

Putin took Modi around in a carriage and paraded him around with horses. According to state information agencies, the two had previously watched a horse performance with performers in national Russian costume.

Modi thanked Putin for hosting him in Novo-Ogaryovo and said he was looking forward to Tuesday’s talks and hoped it would “go a long way in further strengthening the bonds of friendship between India and Russia.” ”

Russia has had strong ties with the Republic of India since the Cold War, and its use of Delhi as a major trading partner has increased since the Kremlin sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022. China and the Republic of India have become major consumers of Russian oil after sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies closed off most Western markets for Russian exports. According to analysts, the Republic of India now receives more than 40% of its oil imports from Russia.

Under Modi’s leadership, India has refrained from condemning Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and has emphasized its desire for a comfortable settlement.

On the other hand, the partnership between Moscow and unused Delhi has become dangerous as Russia moves closer to China. Modi notably stayed away from Kazakhstan during the last term of the Shanghai Cooperation Group, a security grouping set up by Moscow and Beijing.

U.K. Chatham Region-based senior South Asia research fellow Cheetij Bajpai said the Republic of India is increasingly being isolated from boards in which Russia and China play major roles.

“This is evident from India’s relatively low-key chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization last year and now Modi’s decision to skip this year’s summit,” Bajpai said.

A war of words along the disputed China-Republic of India border in June 2020 dramatically changed their already sensitive relationship as rival soldiers fought with rocks, golf equipment and fists. At least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed. Despite the talks, tensions continue – and it highlights how unused Delhi looks to Moscow.

“Russia’s relations with China have been a matter of some concern for India in the context of China’s increasing aggression in the region,” D. Bala Venkatesh Varma, India’s former ambassador to Russia, told The Related Press.

But Modi is expected to try to maintain equal relations with Russia, which is a major security provider for India.

While Moscow’s hand industries are primarily serving the Russian military in Ukraine, the Republic of India is diversifying its defense purchases, making additional purchases from the US, Israel, France and Italy.

“Defence cooperation will clearly be a priority area,” Bajpai said. He said that 60% of the Republic of India’s military machinery and systems “are still of Russian origin.”

“We have seen some delays in the delivery of spare parts following the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” he said. “I believe the two countries are about to sign a military logistics agreement, which will pave the way for greater defense exchanges.”

Putin’s international advances have been modest in recent years, with an arrest warrant issued in 2023 by the World Prison Court for his activities in Ukraine, so Modi’s visit could boost the Russian leader’s clout.

“We’re seeing Putin go on a trip down memory lane – you know, he was in Vietnam, he was in North Korea,” said Theresa Fallon, an analyst at the Center for Russia, Europe, Asia Studies. “In my view, he is trying to demonstrate that he is not a vassal of China, that he has options, that Russia is still a great power.”

Alexander Gabuev, head of Carnegie Russia Eurasia Middle, noted that Putin’s talks on the global stage show that he is “far from isolated” and that Russia is not a country that should be discounted.

The commercial structure will also be firmly settled in the talks, particularly the intention to create a maritime corridor between Chennai, India’s main port, and Vladivostok, the gateway to Russia’s Way East.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra told Newshound on Friday that the India-Russia industry is set to grow by an impressive $65 billion in the 2023-24 financial era due to strong energy cooperation.

Kwatra said imports from Russia reached $60 billion and exports from the Republic of India reached $4 billion in the 2023-24 financial era. The monetary age of the Republic of India runs from April to March.

He said India wants to correct the trade imbalance with Russia by increasing its exports. India’s top exports to Russia include drugs and pharmaceutical products, telecommunication equipment, iron and metals, marine products and equipment.

Its major imports from Russia include crude oil and petroleum products, coal and coke, pearls, precious and semi-precious stones, fertilizers, vegetable oils, gold and silver.

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Pathi reported from unused Delhi and Heintz from Tallin, Estonia. Associated Press writer Ashok Sharma in Delhi contributed to this document.