PM Modi to host private dinner for Russian President Vladimir Putin

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a private dinner for Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday hours after he lands in Delhi to expand overall bilateral strategic and economic partnership against the backdrop of frosty ties between India and the US reported news agency PTIBoosting defence ties insulating IndiaRussia trade from external pressure and exploring cooperation in small modular reactors are set to be the focus of the summit meeting between PM Modi and Putin on Friday that is expected to be closely watched by Western capitalsFollowing the 23rd IndiaRussia summit the two sides are expected to seal several agreements including in areas of tradeAs the Russian leader is visiting India amid renewed American push to end the war in Ukraine the issue is likely to figure prominently at the summitThe Russian president is likely to arrive in New Delhi at around 430 pm on Thursday and hours later PM Modi will host him for a private dinner in reciprocation of a similar gesture extended to the Indian prime minister by the Russian leader during his visit to Moscow in July last year reported PTIOn Friday Putin will be accorded a ceremonial welcome before the 23rd IndiaRussia summit PM Modi will also host a working lunch for the Russian leader and his delegation at Hyderabad House the venue for the summitPutin will also visit Rajghat in the morning according to people familiar with the matter reported PTIAfter the summit Putin is set to launch the new India channel of Russian staterun broadcaster following which he will attend a state banquet to be hosted in his honour by President Droupadi MurmuThe Russian leader is expected to leave India at around 930 pm on Friday wrapping up his nearly 28hour visit reported PTIIn the summit talks New Delhi is expected to press for addressing the increasing trade deficit caused by Indias procurement of large volumes of Russian crude oilThe Russian presidents trip to India is taking place at a time when IndiaUS relations are going through possibly the worst phase in the last two decades after Washington imposed a whopping 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods including 25 per cent levies for New Delhis procurement of Russian crude oilThe impact of American sanctions on Indias procurement of Russian crude oil is likely to be discussed at the summitKremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday said New Delhis purchase of crude oil from Russia may decline for a brief period in view of Western sanctions but at the same time he said Moscow is taking steps to enhance the supplies reported PTIAt the summit Putin is expected to apprise PM Modi about the latest US efforts to bring an end to the Ukraine conflictIndia has been consistently maintaining that dialogue and diplomacy is the only way forward to end the warFollowing the ModiPutin talks the two sides are expected to ink a plethora of agreements including one on facilitating the movement of Indian workers to Russia and another on logistical support under a broader framework of defence cooperation reported PTIIt is learnt that under the trade basket Indian exports to Russia are expected to significantly increase in areas of pharma agriculture food products and consumer goodsThe move comes amid concerns in New Delhi over a ballooning trade deficit in favour of RussiaIndias annual procurement of goods and services from Russia amounts to around USD 65 billion while Russias imports from India stand at around USD 5 billion Officials said India is also looking at boosting cooperation in the fertiliser sector Russia supplies three to four million tonnes of fertilisers to India annuallyThe Indian and Russian sides are also likely to discuss New Delhis proposed free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic UnionAhead of the summit the defence ministers of the two countries will hold wideranging talks on Thursday that are likely to focus on Indias plan to procure additional batches of S400 missile systems and other critical military hardware from RussiaThe S400 missile systems proved to be very effective during Operation Sindoor Top military officials said the overall focus will be to further expand the already close defence and security ties between the two countries with a particular focus on ensuring expeditious supply of military hardware from Russia to IndiaIn October 2018 India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S400 air defence missile systems notwithstanding a warning by the US that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions under the provisions of Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act CAATSAPeskov said there may be a discussion on the possibility of Russia supplying Su57 fighter jets to India India is in the process of procuring a batch of fifthgeneration fighter jetsDassault Aviations Rafale Lockheed Martins F21 Boeings FA18 and the Eurofighter Typhoon are the main contendersWays to bolster bilateral energy ties are also expected to figure prominently in the summit It is learnt that Russia has offered India additional discounts for its procurement of crude oilThe offer came after the volume of Indias purchase of Russian crude oil registered a decline in the last few weeks following the latest wave of US sanctions on two Russian oil producersIndia and Russia have a mechanism under which Indias prime minister and the Russian president hold a summit meeting annually to review the entire gamut of ties So far 22 annual summit meetings have taken place alternatively in India and Russia The Russian president had last visited New Delhi in 2021In July last year PM Modi travelled to Moscow for the annual summitRussia has been a timetested partner for India and a key pillar of New Delhis foreign policyWith inputs from PTI