Russian President Vladimir Putin visit to India ‘soon’, exact date to be negotiated: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov

Visit would be first since Ukraine war began, announcement came amidst signs of escalation on Tuesday

Indian and Russian officials are preparing for a visit to India by Russian President Vladimir Putin “soon” said, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, adding that the dates of the visit, which would be the first by the Russian President since the war in Ukraine began had not been decided so far. 

“I hope soon,” Mr. Peskov told Indian journalists during a virtual conference organised by Sputnik Television, when asked about Mr. Putin’s travel to India, who last travelled to India in December 2021 for the annual summit.  “You know that our leaders are exchanging visits, and after two visits by PM Modi to Russia, we will now have the visit of President Putin to India,” he said, referring to Mr. Modi’s visit to Moscow for the annual summit in July and  then to Kazan for the BRICS summit. 

“We are looking forward to it, we will start precise negotiations for preparations for the visit…Right now we don’t have any specific dates,” Mr. Peskov, who is also Press Secretary to President Putin, said. The MEA did not respond to requests for a confirmation of the visit

The comments came as Ukraine marked 1000 days of the war since Russian forces invaded the country, and as the conflict threatened to enter a more dangerous phase. On Tuesday (November 19, 2024), Russia said Ukraine had fired six long-range missiles into its Bryansk region using US-made ATACMS missiles, which the U.S. had previously not authorised Ukraine to use for cross border attacks. In what seemed to be part of Russia’s response to the change in U.S. policy, the Kremlin announced that Mr. Putin had approved changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine that would lower the threshold for a nuclear response if a non-nuclear state like Ukraine is supported by a nuclear power. 

“It is a mistake to think that any missiles can help Ukraine to defeat a country like Russia,” Mr. Peskov said, asserting the Kremlin would respond to the missile strikes at the “required time, in the required manner”. 

Mr. Peskov said that Mr. Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak to each other regularly, and have a “special” relationship, and that Russia appreciated the efforts of several countries including India to help find a resolution to the Ukraine conflict. He did not confirm whether Mr. Modi had offered to be a mediator in the conflict, but said that as a leader who receives “information first hand” from both the Russian and Ukrainian leadership, the Indian Prime Minister was in a unique position to help.

“We do appreciate efforts by every country to help with the crisis around Ukraine, especially when those efforts come from great friends like India. Mr. Putin is very thankful to Mr. Modi for his efforts and Russia is open for any initiative that will contribute to settle the issue,” Mr. Peskov said. He added that during the US Presidential campaign, Republican candidate and now President-elect Donald Trump had spoken of “bringing peace” to the conflict, and that it was hoped that the next US administration might change its policy towards Russia. 

“Trump spoke of peace during his election campaign. We don’t know what Trump can deliver but he is at least speaking of peace,” Mr. Peskov said, accusing the Biden administration of seeking to prolong the war.

When asked by The Hindu about the perceived shift in India-Russia ties to a more economic engagement, in the wake of delays in military supplies, Mr. Peskov said that India is facing “unprecedented pressure from the United States” in the form of sanctions. He said that India-Russia military cooperation was proof of the relationship’s strength as only countries that are close to each other can engage on sophisticated technology, including for joint production. Slamming the US for what he called its “colonial system” of applying “illegal pressure” though sanctions, that had caused disruptions in India’s trade and oil payments to Russia, Mr. Peskov said that the Kremlin recognises India’s problems in this regard. 

Published - November 19, 2024 04:41 pm IST