Vladimir Putin to arrive in New Delhi today to attend 21st India-Russia Annual Summit

The last India-Russia Annual Summit was held in September 2019 during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Vladivostok (Russia).

The Annual Summit could not take place in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation.

This will be the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders after their meeting on the side-lines of the BRICS Summit in Brasilia in November, 2019.

There have been 6 telephonic conversations between the two leaders since November, 2019 till date apart from virtual meetings for multilateral Summits.

"The leaders will review the state and prospects of bilateral relations and discuss ways to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries. The Summit will also afford an opportunity to exchange views on regional, multilateral and international issues of mutual interest," read the statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in the Indian capital on Sunday night, for the India-Russia inaugural 2+2 Dialogue with his counterpart External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

He will take part in the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue between the foreign and defence ministers of both countries.

The 2+2 will be held ahead of the 21st annual bilateral summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"The 2+2 Dialogue is being held pursuant to the agreement reached between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the Russian President H.E Mr Vladimir Putin during their telephonic conversation on 28 April 2021. The agenda for the Dialogue will cover political and defence issues of mutual interest," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs earlier.

The establishment of a new mechanism of 2+2 dialogue is expected to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.