PM Modi likely to visit Russia for annual summit

PM Narendra Modi is likely to visit Moscow this month for the India-Russia annual summit, the highest institutionalised dialogue mechanism between the two countries. While an official announcement is awaited, both sides are exploring dates in the second week of July for the proposed day-long visit. July 9 is one of the dates being considered.
If the visit happens, and with no other foreign visit scheduled for PM in the next few weeks, it may also turn out to be Modi’s first bilateral visit since the inauguration of his third consecutive term in office earlier this month. Previously, he has chosen to visit countries in the neighbourhood after assuming office.
The visit will take place days after the SCO summit in Astana, which Modi has decided to skip this time. It will also be his first visit to the country since Russia invaded Ukraine in Feb 2022. PM is expected to visit Russia again later this year for the Brics summit.
While 21 such annual summits have taken place so far alternatively in India and Russia, this will be the first time Modi will travel to Russia for the same since 2019. The summit couldn’t take place in 2020 because of Covid-19 but President Vladimir Putin did come the next year for the 21st summit, although only for a few hours.