Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Moscow on Monday, where he will attend the 22nd India-Russia summit scheduled on July 8 and 9. It will be PM Modi's first visit to Russia since Moscow invaded 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.


PM Modi is also scheduled to visit Austria on July 9 and 10, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the European nation in 41 years.


PM Modi In Russia


Prime Minister Modi is visiting Moscow at the invitation of President Putin for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. During the meet, the two leaders will review the entire range of multifaceted relations between India and Russia, and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. 


Both leaders will review bilateral ties in areas like defence, investment, energy cooperation, education and culture among others. 


The programme of Prime Minister Modi in Moscow will be extensive and the two leaders will be able to have informal talks, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Russia’s state-run VGTRK television channel on Saturday.


Peskov also emphasised that the West is closely and jealously watching Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming visit to Russia. “They are jealous — that means they are closely monitoring it. Their close monitoring means they attach great importance to it. And they are not mistaken, there is something to attach great importance to,” Peskov said in response to a question about the jealous attitude of Western politicians towards Modi’s visit to Russia, the Tass report said.


A Look At PM Modi's Itinerary 


July 8: PM Modi will arrive in Moscow late afternoon on Monday. After his arrival, Russian President Putin will host a private dinner for Modi. "The two leaders will share perspectives on “regional and global developments of mutual interest”, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said.


July 9: PM Modi will interact with the Indian diaspora in Russia. He will also lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Kremlin on Tuesday before his visit to the Rosatom pavilion at the exhibition venue in Moscow.


"These engagements will be followed by restricted-level talks between the two leaders, which will then be followed by delegation-level talks led by the honourable Prime Minister and the Russian President," Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra during a media briefing held earlier this week.


“The issue of early discharge of Indian nationals who have been misled into the service of the Russian Army is expected to figure in the discussions,” Kwatra added.


PM Modi will depart for Austria’s Vienna from Moscow on Tuesday afternoon.


PM Modi In Austria


During his stay in Vienna, PM Modi will call on Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and hold talks with Chancellor Karl Nehammer. Both leaders will also address business leaders from India and Austria.


PM Modi is also scheduled to interact with members of the Indian community in Vienna during his visit.


Briefing media about PM Modi's Austria visit, Foreign Secretary Kwatra called Austria an important central European country that offers excellent opportunities for bilateral cooperation in infrastructure, renewable energy, high technology areas, start-up sectors, media and entertainment.


He also highlighted the growing India-Austria trade and investment linkages, including the recent launch of an India-Austria start-up bridge in February 2024 that has made a very promising start.


The visit, we are confident, will allow us to discuss various areas of importance in bilateral engagement, as also issues of regional and global importance of mutual interest, and help broaden the scope of our partnership, said Kwatra.