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Russian President Putin to visit India for 19th annual bilateral summit in October

Image Courtesy: Twitter/Raveesh Kumar

Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive for an official visit to New Delhi on October 4-5 to take part in the 19th India-Russia annual bilateral summit, the MEA said on Friday.

During the visit, President Putin will hold official talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Putin will also meet with President Ram Nath Kovind.

“During talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi the President of Russia will discuss key aspects of the further development of Russian-Indian privileged strategic partnership and exchange opinions on current international and regional issues. A series of documents will be signed following the talks,” the Kremlin press service said in a statement.

Earlier, two weeks after India significantly upgraded its defence ties with the United States through the Comcasa (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement), the Modi government cleared the way for one of the biggest purchases from Russia — $2.2-billion frigates deal.

Russia and India are interested in increasing cooperation, which could result in a greater trade turnover and wider use of ruble and rupee in trade.

“In recent years, bilateral trade has gained steady growth rate… I hope, we will be able to reach the target level of $30 billion in the coming years,” said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov at a meeting with Indian Minister of External affairs Sushma Swaraj in Moscow.

The Donald Trump Administration on Friday had warned India that there could be “implications” for going ahead with the purchase of S-400 missile defence system from Russia, saying that it has the potential to trigger Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

The warning came soon after the United States slapped punishing financial sanctions on a Chinese military unit for its purchase of the S-400 surface-to-air missile as well as the Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets.

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