Putin, Modi kick off India summit as trade, US sanctions loom large
Al Jazeera
Meeting to boost ties comes as India seeks reprieve from US oil sanctions related to war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have kicked off a daylong summit in the capital of India, where trade and Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine were set to loom large.
Friday’s summit is the first time Putin has visited India since the start of Russia’s full-fledged war on Ukraine in 2022, and comes as India is seeking a reprieve from United States sanctions related to its purchase of Russian oil.
Moscow, in turn, is hoping to boost ties with India, already the top buyer of Russian arms. Officials have said they want to increase trade with India to $100bn by 2030 — up from an already all-time high of $68bn in 2024.
Modi gave Putin a warm welcome on Thursday, personally greeting him on the tarmac in New Delhi with a hug and a handshake. He later hosted the Russian leader for a private dinner at his residence.
Friday’s agenda included a morning visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, for a meeting with India’s ceremonial head of state, Droupadi Murmu. Putin will then travel to Raj Ghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.
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