PM Modi's Russia, Austria Trip to Mark Many Historic Firsts

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit 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. PM Modi will also visit Austria from July 9 to 10. The visit to the two countries by the Prime Minister will mark many historic firsts. 

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Prime Minister Modi, who is visiting the country at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin will review the entire range of multifaceted relations between the two countries with President Putin and the two leaders will exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest.

PM Modi to visit Russia after 5 years 

This will be the first trip of Prime Minister Modi since Russia launched a full-scale military operation against Ukraine on February 24, 2022. He last made a visit to Russia in 2019 to attend an economic conclave in the Far East city of Vladivostok. 

India’s position on Russia-Ukraine War 

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on March 27 this year said that India's position in the Russia-Ukraine conflict has been that a solution cannot be found on the battlefield. 

“We took the position from the start, that you're not going to get a solution to this conflict on the battlefield," Jaishankar said at an interaction meeting with the Indian Expatriates in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur. 

India has multiple times abstained from voting in UN General Assembly resolutions condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which started a year ago emphasizing its adoption of strategic neutrality.

Recently, Prime Minister Modi also met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy last month.  

Historic trip to Austria

After his visit to Russia, the Prime Minister will, thereafter, travel to Austria on 9-10 July 2024.

A trip to Austria is also historic in terms as this will be the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to the European nation in 41 years. 

MEA in its release said that PM Modi will call on the President of the Republic of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen and hold talks with Chancellor of Austria Karl Nehammer. The Prime Minister and Chancellor will also address business leaders from India and Austria.

The Prime Minister will interact with members of the Indian community in Moscow as well as in Vienna, MEA said.