President Putin in India for India-Russia Summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to arrive in India to hold the 21st annual India-Russia summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This will be the first in-person meeting between PM Modi and President Putin after their meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Brasilia, Brazil, in November 2019. Putin decided to go ahead with the visit despite the emergence of a new Covid-19 strain Omicron which has affected the schedule of several bilateral and international summits.

During the summit, PM Modi and the Russian President will review the prospects of bilateral relations and will discuss ways further to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The annual summit is a time for both leaders to recalibrate the long-standing relationship.

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hold discussion with their Russian counterparts Sergey Lavrov and Sergey Shoigu.

Both countries are expected to sign several bilateral agreements in various areas following the talks between Putin and PM Modi.

Before the annual summit, India and Russia will also hold the first 2+2 dialogue between the Russian and Indian ministers at the Sushma Swaraj Bhawan here on December 6.

The dialogue is expected to focus on "political and defence issues of mutual interest".

In the first 2+2 format dialogue today, India and Russia will discuss key bilateral, regional and international issues, including the situation in Afghanistan post-Taliban takeover, threats emanating from terror groups, protection of human rights of minorities, women and children in Afghanistan.

(ANI)