Moscow: Russia is anticipating a “very important and full-fledged visit” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Moscow for summit-level talks with President Vladimir Putin, with the Kremlin noting that the West is watching the trip with “jealousy.”

Prime Minister Modi will be in Moscow from July 8 to 9 at President Putin’s invitation for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. This will be Modi’s first visit to Russia since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

The two leaders will review the entire range of multifaceted relations between their countries and exchange views on contemporary regional and global issues of mutual interest, the Ministry of External Affairs said in New Delhi on Thursday while announcing the high-level visit starting on Monday.

Prime Minister Modi’s programme in Moscow will be extensive, including opportunities for informal talks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Russia’s state-run VGTRK television channel on Saturday.

“Obviously, the agenda will be extensive, if not overbusy. It will be an official visit, and we hope that the leaders will be able to talk informally as well,” Peskov stated.

Peskov noted that Russian-Indian relations are at the level of strategic partnership, with both one-on-one talks in the Kremlin and meetings involving delegations planned. “We are expecting a very important and full-fledged visit, which is crucial for Russian-Indian relations,” he was quoted as saying by the official Tass news agency.

Peskov also emphasized that the West is closely and jealously watching Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming visit to Russia. “They are jealous — that means they are closely monitoring it. Their close monitoring means they attach great importance to it. And they are not mistaken; there is something to attach great importance to,” Peskov said in response to a question about the Western attitude towards Modi’s visit to Russia, according to the Tass report.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Modi has held several telephonic conversations with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stressing the importance of ending the war that has impacted the global economy.

Reflecting its strong friendship with Russia, India has not condemned Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, maintaining that the conflict must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.

India’s import of discounted Russian crude oil has significantly increased, despite the G7 price cap and growing disquiet in many Western capitals.

This will be Modi’s first visit to Russia in nearly five years, with his last visit being in 2019 when he attended an economic conclave in Vladivostok.