PM Modi will not go to Moscow for annual meeting with Putin

PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi will now no longer be visiting to Russia for the once a year summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin this yr, reassets stated, citing “scheduling issues”. This comes withinside the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, wherein India has sought to preserve a diplomatic balancing act among the 2 sides. The annual summit among the Indian Prime Minister and the Russian President is the best institutionalized speak mechanism withinside the strategic partnership among the 2 countries.

So far, 21 annual summits have taken vicinity instead in India and Russia. The final summit become hung on December 6, 2021 in New Delhi. While the once a year summits began out in 2000, the in-individual summit couldn’t take vicinity in 2020 because of the Covid pandemic. The summits commonly take vicinity in the calendar yr, and with the yr 2022 nearly coming to a close, this yr too there may be no in-individual summit.

Modi and Putin had maximum currently met at the sidelines of the SCO Summit on September sixteen in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. At that time, Modi had instructed Putin that this isn’t always an generation for battle and that were contemplated withinside the latest G20 Bali statement as well.

Earlier this week, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar instructed Parliament, “At Samarkand, Prime Minister voiced international sentiment while he declared that this become now no longer an generation of battle. His declaration become withinside the context of the Ukraine conflict, wherein our advocacy of discussion and international relations has been constant and persistent. It has a bigger resonance as well.

We have additionally prolonged help on unique worries, inclusive of deliver of meals grains and fertilizers, as certainly on safety of nuclear installations. Our role has been widely liked with the aid of using the global network and reveals mirrored image withinside the G20 Bali Declaration.”N Sources stated the 2 leaders have maintained touch thru cellphone conversations. This yr, they’ve had 4 cellphone conversations because February 24.

While India has now no longer explicitly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it has referred to as for an global probe into the Bucha bloodbath in addition to has expressed worries over the nuclear threats issued with the aid of using Russian leaders.

At the UN Security Council as well, India has taken a nuanced role and abstained from vote casting in opposition to Russia in numerous resolutions because February 24. This, reassets stated, has been a actual check of India’s diplomatic tightrope stroll so far.

However, Delhi — in spite of going through strain from the West to sentence Moscow’s actions — has persisted to shop for oil at discounted prices, some thing for which the Russian management has expressed its appreciation. Besides, India’s dependence on Russia for its defence resources is set 60 to 70 in step with cent of its resources, and that has confronted a few demanding situations withinside the wake of the conflict.