Russian President Vladimir Putin is gearing up for a trip to India, marking his first visit to the country since the Ukraine war began in 2022. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spilled the beans on Thursday, saying Putin had accepted an invite from India’s head of government. While the exact dates are still under wraps, Lavrov confirmed that preparations are in full swing.
Speaking to Russia’s TASS news agency, Lavrov shared, “President Vladimir Putin has accepted an invitation to visit from the Indian head of government. A visit by the Russian head of state to the Republic of India is currently being prepared.” He also pointed out that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off his foreign visits last year with a trip to Russia after his re-election, adding with a grin, “Now it’s our turn.”
Lavrov dropped the news during a conference called “Russia and India: Toward a New Bilateral Agenda,” hosted by the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC). It’s worth noting that Modi has been a bit of a globetrotter in 2024, making stops in both Moscow and Kyiv despite the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. He even swung by Russia again in October for the BRICS Summit.
Putin’s last jaunt to India was back in December 2021 for an annual summit, so this upcoming visit is a big deal—his first in over three years. Keep an eye out for more updates as the plans come together!
