PM Modi Lays Wreath At Tomb Of Unknown Soldier In Moscow Honouring Soviet WWII Troops — WATCH

During his official visit to Russia, Prime Minister Modi paid tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a monument dedicated to the Soviet soldiers who perished during World War II.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow, Russia, during his two-day official visit for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. His visit underscored the enduring friendship between India and Russia, which he lauded in multiple addresses, highlighting the mutual trust and respect that forms the bedrock of their relationship.

This monument, dedicated to the Soviet soldiers who perished during World War II, was designed by architects D. I. Burdin, V. A. Klimov, Yu. R. Rabayev, and sculptor Nikolai Tomsky, and unveiled on May 8, 1967. 

Ministry of External Affairs shared images of this visit calling it, "A solemn homage to the brave!"

Following the visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen at the ATOM pavilion at the VDNKh Exhibition Centre in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia's Deputy PM Denis Manturov.

Russia Is India's 'Sukh-Dukh Ka Saathi': PM Modi

Addressing the Indian diaspora earlier today, Prime Minister Modi described Russia as an "all-weather friend" and praised President Vladimir Putin for his role in strengthening bilateral ties over the past two decades. "This relationship is built on the strong foundation of mutual trust and mutual respect," said Modi, emphasising the resilience of India-Russia ties despite global pressures, including efforts by Western nations to isolate Russia over the Ukraine conflict.

Modi's remarks included a veiled critique of the longstanding influence-oriented global order. "What the world needs right now is confluence, not influence, and no one can deliver this message better than India, which has a strong tradition of worshipping confluences," he asserted. Modi highlighted India's emerging role as a stabilising force in a multipolar world, stating, "When India speaks of peace, dialogue, and diplomacy, the whole world listens."

The Prime Minister recalled his longstanding admiration for the unique India-Russia partnership. "On hearing the word Russia, the first word that comes to the mind of every Indian is 'sukh-dukh ka saathi' (all-weather friend) and a trusted ally," he said. Modi praised the warmth of India-Russia friendship, stating, "No matter how low the temperature dips below zero degrees during Russian winter, India-Russia friendship has always remained in 'plus' and been full of warmth."

Highlighting the deep cultural ties, Modi mentioned the celebrated Hindi song "Sar pe lal topi Rusi, phir bhi dil hai Hindustani" and the popularity of Indian actors like Raj Kapoor and Mithun Chakraborty in Russia. He announced the opening of two new Indian consulates in Russia to boost travel and trade, and expressed gratitude to President Putin and Russian citizens for their assistance in evacuating Indian students during the Ukraine conflict.