PM Modi to visit Russia, Austria from July 8 to 10

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a visit to Russia from July 8 to 9 to hold the 22nd India-Russia annual summit that will review the entire range of multifaceted ties between the two countries, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday.

After concluding the trip to Russia, Modi will travel to Austria, which will be the first visit by an Indian prime minister to that country in 41 years, it said.

It will be Modi’s first visit to Russia in nearly five years. His last visit to Russia was in 2019 when he attended an economic conclave in the Far East city of Vladivostok.

“The leaders will review the entire range of multifaceted relations between the two countries and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest,” the ministry said.

Notably, this will be PM Modi’s first trip to Russia ever since it launched its military offensive and invaded its neighbour Ukraine in February 2022. His last visit to Russia was in 2019 when he attended an economic conclave in the Far East city of Vladivostok.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin said that deepening trade and economic cooperation would be one of the key themes of the meeting between PM Modi and Vladimir Putin during the latter’s visit.

Putin had last met PM Modi in September 2022, at a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Uzbekistan. In 2021, Putin also traveled to New Delhi and held talks with PM Modi.

After concluding his summit in Russia, PM Modi will travel to Austria during July 9 and July 10, making the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the European nation in 41 years, after Indira Gandhi in 1983.

In Vienna, PM Modi will call on Austria President Alexander Van der Belle and hold talks with the country’s Chancellor Karl Nehammer. Later, PM Modi and Nehammer will also address business leaders from the two nations.