The Kremlin says India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Russia on July 8 and hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russian officials first announced the visit last month, but the dates have not been previously disclosed until the Kremlin made the announcement, on Thursday, local time.
India and Russia have shared strong ties since the Cold War, but New Delhi's importance as a key trading partner for Moscow has grown since the Kremlin invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
China and India have become key buyers of Russian oil following sanctions imposed by the US and its' allies that shut most Western markets for Russian exports.
Under Mr Modi's leadership, India has avoided condemning Russia's action in Ukraine while emphasising the need for a peaceful settlement.
The partnership between the nation has become fraught of late, however, since Russia started strengthening relations with China, India's main rival, over hostilities in Ukraine.
On Thursday, Mr Modi skipped the summit of a security grouping created by Moscow and Beijing to counter Western alliances
He sent his foreign minister to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at its' annual meeting in Kazakhstan's capital of Astana, which is being attended by Mr Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Indian media reports speculated their recently re-elected prime minister was busy with the parliament session last week.
By AP/Reuters
Original article link: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-04/narendra-modi-to-visit-putin-in-russia/104060828
