Modi-Putin phone calls shaped Indian PM’s decision to visit Moscow for annual summit
annual summit surprised many in the international community, the genesis of this visit was two telephone conversations between President Vladimir Putin and the Indian PM this year.
The two first spoke following Putin’s Presidential polls victory in March. This was followed by Putin’s call to Modi (first P5 leader to telephone the PM) after BJP-led NDA’s election victory on June 4.
ET has learnt that during the conversations the two discussed the possible visit by Modi for annual summit and it was decided that the PM could probably visit Russia by middle of this year. The government on both sides then worked to firm up the schedule as it was felt that a political summit was imperative to give momentum to the strategic partnership. Earlier during his trip to Moscow last December External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had informed that Modi will visit Russia this year and he is also scheduled to attend the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, end of October.
Modi last visited Russia in 2019 and it was his turn for a Russia trip for the annual Summit. Since 2020 Modi and Putin have met twice so far due to Covid and then the Ukraine war. Amid the Western criticism Putin also skipped the G20 summit being organised by India even though the Modi government burnt midnight oil to deliver G20 joint communique by consensus. The communique watered down criticism against Russia on Ukraine and India did not host the Ukrainian President for the G20 Summit despite international pressure.
The visit will be closely watched across world
