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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Russia next week for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as announced by India’s foreign ministry. The visit is set to take place for two days starting on Monday at the invitation of Mr. Putin. The purpose of the visit is to review the developing bilateral ties between the two countries and to discuss various regional and global issues.

The Kremlin had previously indicated that the visit was likely to occur in July, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov describing it as “very important.” The main agenda of the discussions will include trade and economic cooperation, as well as other areas of cooperation that both countries are keen to develop with mutual political will.

It is noteworthy that Mr. Modi last visited Russia in 2019 for an economic forum held in the far eastern port of Vladivostok. India, being the world’s third-largest crude consumer, plays a significant role in the global energy market and is a major buyer of Russian oil. In fact, in 2021, India increased its purchase of Russian oil more than 20 times due to discounts offered amid Western energy restrictions.

Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the resulting tensions between Russia and the West, India has maintained a neutral stance on the matter. While refraining from publicly criticizing Mr. Putin’s actions, India has been striving to balance its relationships with both Russia and Western nations.

In light of Russia’s efforts to strengthen partnerships and avoid isolation on the global stage, Mr. Putin has been engaging in visits to various countries. Recently, he visited North Korea and Vietnam, signing a security deal in the former. These diplomatic efforts are seen as part of Russia’s broader strategy to maintain international ties despite the challenges it faces due to its actions in Ukraine.