Putin to visit India early 2025, Kremlin says 'received Modi's invitation'

The Kremlin has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit India in early 2025.

The Russian Embassy in India cited Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov as saying that Putin received an invitation to visit India from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the visit will be scheduled in early 2025, according to ANI.

Ushakov, an aide to Putin, further said that even though it is Russia’s turn to hold the annual India-Russia summit, Kremlin would consider India’s invitation.

“Our leaders have an agreement to hold meetings once a year. This time, it’s our turn. We received Mr. Modi’s invitation and we will certainly consider it positively. We will figure out the tentative dates early next year,” said Ushakov, as per the news agency.

Even as the West has pushed for Russia’s isolation over Putin’s war on Ukraine, Russia’s engagement with much of the Global South have continued, which was most notably at display when Russia held the BRICS Summit earlier this year. Even though Putin has visited countries abroad, the visit to India —if and when it materialises— would be notable as India would be the first country outside of China or Russian satellite states in the region that he would visit.

Even as Russia has been a historical partner, India’s relations with the United States and the West have been on an upward trajectory in recent years. This means that India has pursued ties with Russia under a shadow of criticism from the West.

In recent months, India has also indicated at playing a role in mediating between Russia and Ukraine, with reports saying that Modi’s visits to Russia and Ukraine, followed up by the visit of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to Russia, were part of engagements part of a larger initiative related to the ongoing war.

Now that Donald Trump is expected to assume the US presidency next month, the pushback on engagement with Russia from at least the United States is expected to reduce as he is deemed friendly with Putin and Russia.