Russia to discharge all Indians from army: What happened on Day 1 of Modi-Putin meet

Day 1 of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s significant Russia visit was all about bear hugs, smiles and exchange of praise between the two world leaders. Today (July 9) marks the second day of PM Modi’s Moscow visit and he has a busy day ahead of him.

The visit by the PM is very significant; it is the first by Modi since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war and his first foreign visit since he was re-elected for a rare third term in June.

Day 1 of the Modi-Putin meet also saw several personal gestures, emphasising the warmth and camaraderie between the two leaders.

But what happened on Day 1? And what are we to expect on Day 2 of the PM’s Moscow visit? Here’s what we know.

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A roaring welcome

Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for Moscow on Monday (July 8) for his meet with Russian President as part of the 22nd India-Russia summit in Moscow.

Before his departure, Modi had in a statement said that he was “looking forward to reviewing all aspects of bilateral cooperation with my friend President Vladimir Putin and sharing perspectives on various regional and global issues. We seek to play a supportive role for a peaceful and stable region. The visit will also provide me an opportunity to meet the vibrant Indian community in Russia”.

On landing in Moscow in the evening, PM Modi was accorded the Guard of Honour at VNUKOVO-II International Airport and Russia’s First Deputy PM Denis Manturov received him at the airport. In a rare gesture, Manturov also accompanied PM Modi to the hotel from the airport in the same car.

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At the hotel where PM Modi is residing, he was welcomed by a jubilant Indian community, playing dhols and singing bhajans in his honour. People held Indian flags and posters of PM Modi and chanted “Modi Modi” to welcome him at the hotel. Artists dressed in Indian attire performed in the hotel to welcome PM Modi.

The Ostankino TV tower, a prominent Moscow landmark and the world’s fourth tallest and Europe’s highest structure, was also lit up in the colours of the flags of India and Russia to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day high-profile visit to Russia.

❗️Indian Tricolour Lights Up Moscow's Ostankino Tower - The Tallest Free-Standing Structure In Europe - In Tribute To PM Modi's State Visit#ModiInRussia pic.twitter.com/FRx5YTXf6w

— RT_India (@RT_India_news) July 8, 2024

Hugs and a ride in a golf cart

After his interaction with the Indian community at his hotel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his way to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s official residence at Novo-Ogaryovo for a “private engagement”.

The two leaders drank tea on a terrace, rode in a golf cart together, and visited stables and later Putin even hosted Modi for dinner. PM Modi told Putin it was a “moment of joy” to visit and thanked him for planning “that we chit-chat here this evening”, reported NDTV.

Many geopolitical pundits noted that Putin’s decision to host Modi at Novo-Ogaryovo is an indication of the importance that the Russian leader attaches to the visit as well as the deep camaraderie between the two leaders.

The two displayed deep bonhomie as they shared a warm hug and firm handshake. Russia’s Putin also heaped praise on Modi, saying he has devoted his whole life for public service and he is doing good for India.

He also congratulated Modi for his third term as prime minister, stating that “this is not an accident, but the result of your work over many years”. “You have your own ideas. You are a very energetic person, able to achieve results in the interests of India and the Indian people,” Putin said. “The result is obvious.” “India firmly ranks as the world’s third-largest economy,” Putin was quoted as saying by the state-run Tass news agency.

A separate Tass report said that while both leaders used interpreters for their discussions, at one point during their meeting at Novo-Ogaryovo, they walked separately and had a brief tete-a-tete conversation, probably in English.

Big takeaway from Day 1

Apart from the camaraderie on display at the private engagement, perhaps, the biggest takeaway from the meeting was that Russia had decided to discharge all Indians working in the Russian army after PM Modi raised the issue.

Sources have told multiple media outlets that PM Modi raised this issue at the dinner and Putin reciprocated by agreeing to discharge them all. Over 20 men are believed to have been forced into fighting Russia’s war against Ukraine after they were conned by agents and travelled to Russia after being made to believe they would be working in high-paying jobs. News18 reports that four Indians have been killed in the war, while 10 have returned to the country. About 35-40 Indians are still believed to be stuck in Russia.

Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said that the matter of Indians stuck in Russia was a “deep concern” for New Delhi. In March, the government had even “strongly” taken up the matter with Russian authorities.

What to expect from Day 2

After a successful first day, Modi and Putin will hold talks at the 22nd India-Russia annual summit. On the table will be economic issues — namely trade between the two countries — and also the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

“We expect economic issues to be the driver of the agenda,” government sources told The Hindu, explaining that two years of the Russia-Ukraine conflict have led to many geo-economic changes that the two leaders would have to “take stock” of. “It is clear that no solution can be found to the conflict on the battlefield — and this is also the view of the global south. Both parties must be on the table to find solution through dialogue and diplomacy,” the sources said, about the stance Modi is expected to take.

Also read: PM Modi's visit to Russia: How New Delhi has navigated ties with Moscow amid Ukraine war

It is expected that Modi will reiterate his previous statement of “this is not an era of war” — a line that was later used in the G20’s Bali declaration in November 2022. India under Modi has repeatedly sought to “play a supportive role for a peaceful and stable region” and asked both sides to resolve the conflict through dialogue. Sources told Indian Express that the Indian side will convey to the Russians that “a solution cannot be found on the battlefield”.

Moreover, India and Russia are expected to sign documents, including a comprehensive joint statement, a vision statement and a number of MoUs. However, there won’t be a press conference of the two leaders after their meeting.

Besides talks with Putin on a one-on-one level and delegation level, PM Modi is also expected to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Kremlin where he will lay a wreath. PM Modi will also hold a face-to-face with the Indian community in Russia. There’s also visit to the Rosatom pavilion at the exhibition venue in Moscow.

Modi will then depart for Austria’s Vienna in the afternoon. His visit to Vienna will be a first by an Indian PM in 41 years. In the European nation, the PM will call on the president of Austria and hold restricted, delegation-level talks, as also a high-level business engagement in Austria.

Modi will also hold talks with Chancellor of Austria Karl Nehammer.

With inputs from agencies