PM Modi returns from Russia where he had a packed schedule and lands in Austria

PM Modi received Russia's highest civilian honor during his visit to Moscow, where he discussed the Ukraine conflict with President Putin. He then arrived in Austria for talks with leaders, marking the first Indian PM visit in over 40 years.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Austria on Tuesday for a two-day stay that marks the first official visit by an Indian prime minister to Austria in the last forty-four years. This part of his European tour follows a significant visit to Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin and receiving a distinguished Russian civilian decoration. 

During an official visit to Moscow, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the Order of St.  Andrew the Apostle at a Kremlin ceremony. This prestigious achievement has still provided further strength to the increasing bilateral relations between India and Russia which Modi referred as the ‘special friend’ for India while speaking to a group of Indians. 

As the meeting started, it became clear that the Prime Minister and President Putin had several points to discuss with the major focus on Ukraine. Speaking about war and conflict solution in his speech, Modi said that one cannot win a war and find the solution to the conflict pointing to the fact that “peaceful negotiations do not occur in bombs, in guns, in bullets. ” The Prime Minister highly condemned the recent attack on a children’s hospital in Kyiv as well as the death of the children very much. 

Modi’s visit to Russia which is his first since the beginning of the Russia invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 is well timed given that the NATO chiefs are scheduled to meet in Washington D.  C to mark 75th anniversary of NATO alliance. The timing is clearly evident to India’s diplomacy in which it still retains Russia as an ally while moving closer towards the western countries. 

It is expected that the Prime Minister of Austria is to meet with President Alexander Van der Bellen on Wednesday and separately with Chancellor Karl Nehammer. These talks are said to focus on the continuous improvement of the relations between the two countries as well as the fight against international issues. 

Also Read: Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences after the Hathras Stampede Tragedy

While Modi is advancing through his tour in Europe, the world will be looking at how India will continue maintaining its relations with both Russia and the western countries in this changing world system.