Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to visit Russia next week and meet President Vladimir Putin, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said.
Modi will be on a two-day visit to the country starting Monday at the invitation of President Putin, the ministry said in a statement.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two leaders are expected to review the developing bilateral relations between the two countries and discuss regional and global issues.
The Kremlin said earlier this week that the planned visit would likely take place in July, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov describing it as “very important.”
“Furthermore, our trade and economic cooperation is also one of the main issues under discussion, and this is the most diverse area of cooperation that we are trying to develop, and there is political will on both sides,” Peskov said. “And this is the most important thing.”
Modi last visited Russia in 2019 to attend an economic forum in the Far Eastern port city of Vladivostok.
India is the world’s third-largest oil consumer and a major buyer of Russian crude, increasing purchases by more than 20 times compared to 2021 as Russia cut oil prices in response to Western energy curbs.
Modi sent his “warm congratulations” when Putin extended his presidential term in March after elections that Western countries deemed neither free nor fair.
India has remained neutral on the conflict and has refrained from publicly criticising Putin’s aggression while seeking to maintain ties with Western countries.
Russia is increasingly seeking to strengthen ties with partners as it seeks to avoid global isolation following its invasion of Ukraine.
President Putin recently visited both North Korea and Vietnam, where he signed a security agreement.