Prime Minister Modi lands in Russia, welcomed by senior deputy PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday arrived in Moscow, kickstarting his two-day state visit to Russia and then Austria. The prime minister was accorded a guard of honor upon his arrival at the airport in Moscow.

Modi was received by the 1st Deputy Prime Minister (1st DPM) of Russia, Denis Manturov. Manturov is senior to the Deputy Prime Minister who received Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Russia. The 1st DPM Manturov will also accompany PM Modi to the hotel from the airport in the same car.

“Over the next three days, will be in Russia and Austria. These visits will be a wonderful opportunity to deepen ties with these nations, with whom India has time-tested friendship. I also look forward to interacting with the Indian community living in these countries,” the prime minister had posted on X ahead of departure to Russia.

It is Prime Minister Modi's first visit to Russia in five years. He had attended an economic summit in the Russian city of Vladivostok way back in 2019. It is also Modi's first Russia visit since the outbreak of Ukraine war in 2022.