Russia's President Vladimir Putin's 3-day India visit to focus on defence, business

New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin will be on a three-day visit to India beginning this Friday. He will hold extensive dialogue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi across sectors, including defence, energy and economic projects. Putin will attend the 18th BRICS summit and visit the mega industrial show Innoprom.India along with Modi, amid Moscow's assertion that its views conform with New Delhi's position on Ukraine peace efforts.

Ahead of Putin's trip, Presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday, "We know the position of India on the Ukrainian conflict, and to a great extent, it corresponds with our own position. Because we do want the solution of the Ukrainian conflict by peaceful means."

Also read: Russia reveals India's big asks ahead of Modi-Putin meet: Su-57 tech, nuclear plants and more


Peskov was addressing a select group of Indian media online from Moscow, in an interaction organised by Russian news agency Sputnik.

At the weekly press briefing here on Tuesday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that if India can be of any help in any manner to bring the war to an end, it is ready to do so. "India is in touch with both the Ukrainian and Russian sides and is trying to see if there are ideas and suggestions that can contribute to the cessation of the conflict," Jaiswal said.

During his visit, Putin will meet Modi on Friday and they will jointly visit Innoprom.India (the mega industrial show jointly organised by India and Russia) at Bharat Mandapam, besides attending the BRICS Business Forum.

International issues, including Ukraine and West Asia, as well as bilateral industrial, defence and energy projects, will figure high on the agenda of the Modi-Putin meeting here on Friday. This will be their second meeting in less than 15 days. Putin has usually travelled to India for 24 hours or less during the last few years. On Saturday and Sunday, the Russian President will attend the BRICS summit, besides the BRICS Partners and Outreach meeting.

With regard to differences between Iran and the UAE within the BRICS following the war, the Russian diplomat said talented diplomats from all sides would work to iron out the differences.

Also read: Vladimir Putin to attend BRICS Summit in India, hold bilateral talks with PM Modi: Kremlin

On the proposed move by US lawmakers to levy 100% tariffs on countries buying Russian crude oil, he said it was "illegal and unacceptable". It may be pointed out, however, that the White House has a different view on the bill.

Peskov said a record is being created every month in Russian oil supplies to India, but added that, understandably, he could not divulge the details.

Also on the agenda during the visit will be Russia's offer of Su-57 fighter jets, on which advanced negotiations are ongoing, according to Peskov. The Presidential spokesperson, however, was quick to point out that defence projects involve sensitive details that cannot be divulged publicly.