Russian President Vladimir Putin invites ‘Dear Friend’ Modi to Russia

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on December 27. Both leaders held bilateral talks during which Russian Prez Putin called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a ‘dear friend’ and invited him to Russia. Vladimir Putin said, “Despite all the turmoil happening worldwide, the relationship with our true friends in Asia-India has been progressing incrementally. Regarding the situation in Ukraine, many times I advised him of how things have been going there and I know that he is willing to do his will be glad to see our dear friend, Prime Minister Modi paying a visit to tell him that we expect him here. I know that India, next year will have a busy political schedule (general elections). We wish our friends success in that.” Earlier in the day, Jaishankar also met Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and held discussions on a wide range of global issues Indo-Pacific, Ukraine conflict as well as Gaza. Notably, Jaishankar is on a four-day