New Delhi: Russia’s State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin recently arrived in New Delhi on an official visit, which is being seen as an important step in India-Russia cooperation. The visit comes just ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s likely visit to India later this year in connection with the annual India-Russia leaders’ summit. If it happens, it will be Putin’s first visit to India since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in February 2022.
The Russian embassy in New Delhi confirmed Volodin’s visit in a tweet at 1:30 am on Monday. “State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin arrived on an official visit to India. In New Delhi, issues of Russia-India cooperation in the economic, cultural, educational and technological spheres, as well as the development of inter-parliamentary dialogue will be discussed,” the embassy noted. The State Duma is the lower house of the Russian parliament.
During his visit, Volodin is expected to meet the Indian leadership and visit both houses of Parliament. Before departing from Moscow, he emphasised the close ties between Russia and India, rejecting Western attempts to isolate Russia. “Attempts by Washington and Brussels (EU) to isolate Russia from the rest of the world have failed. India is a strategic partner. We have a long-standing relationship of trust and mutually beneficial cooperation with it,” Volodin said.
Putin’s potential visit is strategically important, as it will further strengthen the age-old ties between India and Russia. Officials from both sides are discussing how to finalise the summit agenda. During the visit, they may discuss bilateral cooperation at every level, be it in trade, energy partnership, defence cooperation or geopolitical concerns.
Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing to visit the United States in mid-February. The visit comes amid fresh sanctions imposed on Russia by the US, targeting Russian oil companies and ships carrying Russian crude oil. Despite these sanctions, India continues to maintain its independent foreign policy, balancing its relations with Russia and the West.
The coming months are likely to see significant diplomatic engagement, with India playing a key role in global geopolitics. As discussions between New Delhi and Moscow continue, the world is waiting and watching what is going to happen with Putin’s upcoming visit to India.
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