'West watching with jealousy': Kremlin on PM Modi's Russia visit

NEW DELHI: Kremlin on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India's highly-anticipated and comprehensive visit to Moscow will be watched by the West with "jealousy".
The trip, which comes at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin, will mark the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit and will be PM Modi's first visit to Russia since the country's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
According to the ministry of external Affairs in New Delhi, the two leaders will engage in discussions covering the entire spectrum of their multifaceted bilateral relations. They will also exchange views on pressing regional and global issues of mutual concern. Kremlin spokesperson Peskov emphasized that the agenda for the visit will be extensive, allowing for both formal talks in the Kremlin and informal conversations between the two leaders.
"We are expecting a very important and full-fledged visit, which is so crucial for Russian-Indian relations," Peskov stated in an interview with Russia's state-run VGTRK television channel on Saturday. He also highlighted that the West is closely monitoring Prime Minister Modi's upcoming visit with a sense of "jealousy", recognizing its significance.
Since the onset of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in 2022, PM Modi has engaged in several telephone conversations with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, emphasizing the importance of finding a peaceful resolution to the war, which has had a profound impact on the global economy.
India has refrained from openly condemning Russia's actions, maintaining that the conflict must be resolved through diplomatic means and dialogue.
Despite the G7 price cap and growing concerns from Western nations, India has significantly increased its import of discounted Russian crude oil, reflecting the strong friendship between the two countries. The upcoming visit will be Modi's first to Russia in nearly five years, with his last visit taking place in 2019 when he attended an economic conclave in Vladivostok.