Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addresses a press conference in New Delhi on October 21, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In a dramatic development, India and China have reached an agreement on “patrolling arrangements ” and a resolution of the military standoff at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) , the government announced on Monday (October 21, 2024). The patrolling arrangement agreement extends beyond the areas along the LAC where there has already been a disengagement of military personnel over the past few years, and include the so far unresolved areas of Demchok and Depsang, sources told The Hindu, indicating that the India-China standoff since April 2020 is now expected to be resolved.

While the MEA did not give further details of the agreement, and whether there would be a reversion to the status quo pre-2020, and whether the “buffer zones” more recently created would continue to exist for patrolling purposes”, Mr. Misri said that the two sides had “reached an agreement on the issues that were being discussed”

The announcement, by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, came amidst a media briefing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia for the BRICS summit on Tuesday which he will attend along with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“Over the last several weeks, Indian and Chinese diplomatic and military negotiators have been in close contact with each other in a variety of forums, and as a result of these discussions, agreement has been arrived at on patrolling arrangements along the line of actual control in the India-China border areas, leading to disengagement and a resolution of the issues that had arisen in these areas in 2020,” Mr. Misri told journalists adding that the two sides would now take the “next steps” on this.

The timing of the India-China agreement announcement, just a day before the BRICS Summit indicates that a meeting between Mr. Modi and Mr. Xi on the side-lines, that has been speculated about is now expected to take place. Although the two leaders met as many as 18 times prior to the Galwan clashes in June 2020 , where 20 Indian soldiers were killed, they have spoken only twice since then, on the side-lines of the G-20 summit in Indonesia in 2022, and the BRICS summit in South Africa in 2023.

 Mr. Misri did not confirm a meeting between Mr. Modi and Mr. Xi , he said that government is discussing the scheduling of a number of bilateral meetings in Kazan, the venue of the BRICS summit.

“[BRICS] is a multilateral event, though, of course, there is always a provision for bilateral meetings on the sidelines. We are currently looking into the overall program of the Prime Minister. There are a number of requests for bilateral meetings, and we will update you on the bilaterals as they evolve, as soon as feasible,” Mr. Misri told journalists when asked, not denying that a meeting with the Chinese leader was among those.

Mr. Misri, who was previously India’s Ambassador to China, and was no doubt, a key part of the recent negotiations, did not give further details of the agreement between both sides. He referred to recent meetings that had led to the breakthrough, which include two meetings between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Chinese FM Wang Yi in June-July, two meetings of the WMCC mechanism of diplomatic and military officials in July-August, followed by a meeting between NSA Ajit Doval and Mr. Wang, who is also the Special Representative on border talks in September. These were followed by intense negotiations of military commanders and MEA officials in the last few weeks. With Mr. Modi and Mr. Xi’s travels to Russia for the BRICS confirmed, a deadline appeared to have emerged for the negotiations to conclude with a result. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin visit the Atom pavilion at the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (VDNKh) in Moscow, Russia on July 9, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

The White House on July 9 said that India’s ties with Russia give it the ability to urge Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the conflict in Ukraine. The statement came after PM Modi emphasised to President Putin that the solution to the Ukraine conflict lay in dialogue and not on the battlefield.

While addressing a press briefing, Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary, called India the U.S.’ “strategic partner” with whom they hold “full and frank dialogue”, including their ties with Russia. She called it critical that all nations, including India support efforts to realise an enduring peace when it comes to Ukraine.

Asked about PM Modi’s meeting with Mr. Putin, Jean-Pierre said, “India is a strategic partner with whom we engage in full and frank dialogue, including their relationship with Russia and we’ve talked about this before. So we think it’s critical that all countries, including India, support efforts to realize an enduring and just peace when it comes to Ukraine. It is important for all our allies to realise this.”

“We also believe India’s long-standing relationship with Russia gives it the ability to urge President Putin, to end his brutal war, an unprovoked war in Ukraine. It is for President Putin to end. President Putin started the war, and he can end the war.”

Jean-Pierre made the statement after Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his bilateral talks with Russian President Putin raised the issue of killings of children during conflicts and said it is “heart-wrenching” when innocent children die. The Prime Minister said that everyone who believes in humanity is hurt when there is a loss of lives.

This comes in the wake of the recent missile strike on a children’s hospital in Kyiv, which killed 37 children.

“Be it war, conflicts, terror attacks – everyone who believes in humanity is pained when there is loss of lives. But when innocent children are murdered, when we see innocent children dying, it is heart-wrenching. That pain is immense. I also held a detailed discussion with you over this,” PM Modi said during the meeting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that there is no solution on the battlefield and added that peace talks do not succeed amid bombs, guns and bullets.

PM Modi said, “As a friend, I have always said that for the bright future of our coming generations, peace is of utmost importance. But I also know that solutions are not possible on battlegrounds. Amid bombs, guns and bullets, solutions and peace talks do not succeed. We will have to follow the path to peace only through talks.”

It was PM Modi’s first visit to Russia since the war started between Moscow and Kyiv in 2022. India has always advocated “peace and diplomacy” for resolving the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed disappointment over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia, which he termed a “devastating blow to peace efforts.”

Mr. Zelenskyy took to social media platform X to post that on the same day 37 people, including three children, were killed and 170 others were injured due to Russia’s missile strike at the largest children’s hospital in Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv.

“In Ukraine today, 37 people were killed, three of whom were children, and 170 were injured, including 13 children, as a result of Russia’s brutal missile strike. A Russian missile struck the largest children’s hospital in Ukraine, targeting young cancer patients. Many were buried under the rubble. It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world’s largest democracy hug the world’s most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day” the Ukrainian leader said.

PM Modi was on a two-day official visit to Russia from July 8-9. During his visit, he held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. PM Modi also addressed the Indian community in Moscow.

Moscow:

Russia on Tuesday agreed to address New Delhi’s concerns over delays in the supply of spare parts of Russian-origin military platforms by setting up joint production facilities in India.

Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of delays in the supplies with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the summit talks.

The two leaders discussed various facets of India-Russia defence ties at the 22nd India-Russia annual summit here.

“Both sides had a general sense of agreement that this would be expedited including through setting up joint venture partnerships in India to look at some of these spare parts, particularly the more critical ones so that we can address the challenge in a meaningful way,” Mr Kwatra said.

There have been inordinate delays on Russia’s part in the supply of spares of various Russian-origin platforms to Indian armed forces, triggering concerns in New Delhi.

The foreign secretary was addressing a press conference after talks between Modi and Putin.

Mr Kwatra said both Prime Minister Modi and Mr Putin emphasised the larger domain of the co-production of military hardware.

“We already have some good examples of co-production in the field of defence and we would very much like to build on that and add on new equipment if needed as part of co-production,” he said.

Russia has been a major supplier of military platforms and hardware to India for the last seven decades.

A joint statement said both sides agreed to “encourage joint manufacturing in India of spare parts, components, aggregates and other products for the maintenance of Russian-origin arms and defence equipment under Make-in-India programme through the transfer of technology”.

It also mentioned the setting up of joint ventures for meeting the needs of the Indian armed forces as well as subsequent export to friendly third countries with both sides’ approval.

“In this regard, the sides agreed on establishing a new Working Group on Technological Cooperation and discussing its provisions during the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation,” it said.

It said military and military-technical cooperation has traditionally been the pillar of Special and Privileged Strategic partnership between India and Russia.

“Responding to India’s quest for self-sufficiency, the partnership is reorienting presently to joint research and development, co-development and joint production of advanced defence technology and systems,” it said.

“The sides confirmed commitment to maintain the momentum of joint military cooperation activities and expand military delegation exchanges,” the statement added.

Prime Minister Modi began his two-day visit to Russia on Monday for the India-Russia annual summit that has been watched closely by the West given the Ukraine conflict. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Moscow:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said energy is an important pillar of cooperation between India and Russia. New Delhi is eager to further cement ties in this sector with Moscow as he visited the Rosatom Pavilion along with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Prime Minister Modi witnessed a photo exhibition dedicated to India-Russia cooperation in civil nuclear energy at the Rosatom Pavilion at VDNKh, inaugurated in November 2023. It is one of the largest exhibitions in the history of scientific and technological developments.

“Visited the Atom Pavilion with President Putin. Energy is an important pillar of cooperation between India and Russia and we are eager to further cement ties in this sector,” Modi posted on his official X platform along with the photographs from the visit.

Visited the Atom Pavilion with President Putin. Energy is an important pillar of cooperation between India and Russia and we are eager to further cement ties in this sector. pic.twitter.com/XpLLxrYVQ0

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2024

“Prime Minister Modi was also shown the ‘Atomic Symphony’ – a permanent working model of the VVER-1000 reactor, which is the heart of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) in India,” a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Prime Minister Modi is here to hold the 22nd India-Russia annual summit with President Putin. Prime Minister Modi and President Putin visited the All Russian Exhibition Centre, VDNKh, ahead of the summit talks.

“At the Pavilion, the Prime Minister also interacted with a group of Indian and Russian students. He encouraged them to look at future possibilities in the realm of science and technology, which could be harnessed for the benefit of future generations and for the planet,” the MEA statement said.

“Cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear technology is an important pillar of the multifaceted cooperation between India & Russia,” the MEA posted on X soon after the visit.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi paid tribute at the ‘Tomb of the Unknown Soldier’ here and also laid a wreath at the Tomb. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

India is transforming at a record pace and the world is taking note, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today at an event organised by the Indian community in Russia’s Moscow. The country, he said, is infused with a confidence and is making things happen. “Over 140 crore Indians are making this resurgence of India possible — they dream big, they take a pledge and then make it happen,” he said.

In this context, the Prime Minister also referred to India’s victory in the Men’s T20 cricket world cup that ended the 13-year ICC trophy drought for the Men in Blue.

“Before 2014, we were into the pit of despair. Today, the country is full of confidence. Two patients suffering from the same ailment are in the same hospital, similarly capable doctors are attending to them. But if one patient is hopeful and the other is in despair, you will see the hopeful one will recover soon. India’s asset now is its confidence,” the Prime Minister said.

“You must have celebrated India’s T20 World Cup victory here. The real story of that win is the journey towards it. Today’s young India does not accept defeat till the last ball and the last moment. And victory kisses the feet of those who do not accept defeat,” he said.

Showcasing his government’s achievements, the Prime Minister said, “When India hosts the G20 Summit at the scale at which it did, the world takes notice. When India electrifies 40,000 km of rail lines, then the world notices India’s power to grow. When India launches a solar mission and successfully and takes an L1 orbit, when India lands on the moon, when India builds the world’s highest rail bridge, when India build’s the world’s tallest statue, the world sees a growing India. And India can do all this because of the potential and capability of 140 crore Indians, of its talented diaspora in every country of the world.”

The Prime Minister said India and Russia are working together to boost global prosperity. “You all are taking India-Russia ties to new heights. With your hard work and honesty, you have contributed to the Russian society. I have been a fan of the unique relationship between India and Russia,” he said, referring to Russia as India’s “all-weather ally” and “trustworthy friend”.

This relationship, he said, is based on mutual trust and respect. “Our ties have been tested multiple times, and our friendship has always emerged strong. I thank my friend, President Putin for his leadership. For over two decades, he has worked to make this partnership stronger. This is my 6th visit to Russia in the past 10 years and we have met each other 17 times during this time. These meetings have strengthened trust and respect. When our students were stuck amid (Ukraine) conflict, President Putin helped us take them home,” he said. 

The Prime Minister said it is his honour that his first diaspora event after being elected for the third time is happening in Moscow. “I have taken a pledge that I will work thrice as hard and thrice as fast as I have in the first two terms. I can assure you that in this third term, you will see that India will challenge every challenge that comes its way. And it is in my DNA that I give chunauti (challenge) to every chunauti,” he said.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi walk during their meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence near Moscow, Russia on July 8, 2024
| Photo Credit: via Reuters

In what will be relief for the families of men recruited into the Russian military to serve at the warfront with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s request, made at a private dinner on Monday, to discharge those wishing to return to India. According to sources privy to the decision, Mr. Putin has given instructions to this effect upon Mr. Modi’s “direct intervention”.

“We expect the release to take place within weeks from various places where they are serving or deployed,” sources told The Hindu on the condition of anonymity.

Also Read: PM Modi in Russia LIVE updates

It is unclear whether there will be a public announcement about the order and whether it will find mention in the joint statement, that comes after weeks of diplomatic discussions, and the issue being raised by the Indian Embassy in Moscow as well as by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a meeting on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Astana last week.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold formal talks with President Putin and visit an exhibition on nuclear cooperation later on Tuesday.

Increasing pressure

The demand for the discharge of dozens of soldiers who claim they were recruited by the Russian military after being lured by agents on false promises has been increasing pressure on the government for several months. After The Hindu first reported on the demand that was raised by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi as some men from his constituency had reached out, the Ministry of External Affairs accepted that there was a problem amongst a “few” such cases.

However, subsequently it has emerged that there are at least 50 Indian men serving at war front, of which four have been killed.

Also Read: Death of Indians in Russia-Ukraine war: Status and accountability of mercenaries in international law | Explained

In parliament last week, Mr. Owaisi had referred to Indians who were not being prevented by the government to travel to conflict zones in Russia and Israel as “cannon fodder”. The MEA has said that about 9-10 who reached out directly to the Embassy have been returned to India, after the Embassy’s intervention with the Kremlin. The Hindu has learnt that several others had already received their discharge papers, but were awaiting a formal release from the war front by their commanding officers.

The Russian government has not commented on the issue thus far, but official sources explained that the recruitment of foreign soldiers is permitted under law and conducted after “thorough mental and physical” checks. Recruits from Nepal, Sri Lanka, China and African countries are all believed to have been trained for a few weeks and deployed similarly to the Indian recruits. The Nepali government has also made similar requests to the Kremlin and taken up the issue in Kathmandu and Moscow.

Special gesture

The decision by the Russian President is seen as a special gesture made for India given traditional ties, as well as his personal rapport with PM Modi, that was on display at a private dinner he threw for Mr. Modi at his Dacha on the outskirts of Moscow on Monday. The two men embraced as they met, and Mr. Putin who congratulated PM Modi on his third term in office, then personally drove Mr. Modi in a golf cart around his estate, and took him on a tour.

India dismisses U.S. concerns

The optics of the visit has raised eyebrows in Washington, where President Joseph Biden is hosting NATO leaders and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a special summit on Tuesday, and the State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller, when asked said that the US has raised its “concerns” about India’s relationship with Russia.

When asked, government sources rejected the US’s concerns on the issue.

“India has always called for respecting the UN charter, including territorial integrity and sovereignty,” the official sources said. As The has reported, PM Modi is expected to stress with President Putin that there is “no solution on the battlefield” to the conflict and that “dialogue and diplomacy” are the only way forward.

(With inputs from Vijaita Singh)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin embrace during an informal meeting at Novo-Ogaryovo residence, outside Moscow, Russia, on July 8, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

The United States has raised concerns with India about its relationship with Russia amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, a U.S. State Department spokesperson told reporters on Monday in response to questions about a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

India has faced pressure from the West to distance itself from Moscow after Russia invaded Ukraine. New Delhi has thus far resisted that pressure, citing its longstanding ties with Russia and its economic needs.

ALSO READ: PM Modi in Russia LIVE updates

Mr. Modi met Mr. Putin in Russia on Monday in the Prime Minister’s first visit since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. In a post on social media platform X, the Prime Minister said his talks with Mr. Putin “will surely go a long way in further cementing the bonds of friendship” between the two countries.

“I will look to Prime Minister Modi’s public remarks to see what he talked about but as I said, we have made quite clear directly with India our concerns about their relationship with Russia,” a State Department spokesperson said in a press briefing.

“And so we would hope (that) India and any other country when they engage with Russia would make clear that Russia should respect the U.N. Charter, should respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

ALSO READ: PM Modi’s Moscow visit: Five areas to watch closely

Russia has been India’s largest weapons supplier since the Soviet Union days. However, India has also been seeking other options, as the Ukraine war hobbled Russia’s ability to supply munitions and spares.

Washington in recent years has looked to woo New Delhi, with political analysts saying the U.S. sees India as a counter to China in the Asia-Pacific.

While the West has tried to isolate Putin, China, India and powers in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America have continued to build ties.

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is on two-day official visit to Russia at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin meets the Indian community here.

PM Modi will first interact with the Indian community in Russia, lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Kremlin and thereafter visit the Rosatom pavilion at an exhibition venue in Moscow.

The two leaders met yesterday at the Russian President’s official address where they spoke over crucial global matters.

The meeting marks the 16th encounter between PM Modi and President Putin in the past decade, with their last face-to-face interaction occurring at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in 2022.

This visit to Russia by PM Modi is his first since the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv began in 2022.

Here are the LIVE Updates of PM Modi’s Russia visit: 

PM Modi Russia Visit Updates: PM Modi On India-Russia relationship

• India and Russia are moving forward shoulder-to-shoulder. And every person in the room and all Indians in Russia are playing a key role in ensuring that the India-Russia bond goes from strength to strength.
• Every Indian knows in their heart and feels that when they hear ‘Russia’, the emotion that comes to mind and heart that Russia is India’s “sukh-dukh ka saathi” (all-weather friend).
• We all have a song in our heart – in the hearts of every Indian – that ‘sar par laal topi Roosi, phir bhi dil hai Hindustani’. The song may be decades old, but the emotion resonates in every Indian even today.
• The India-Russia friendship is a special one and will always remain so.
• I have come to Russia 6 times in the last 10 years and President Putin and I have met 17 times in the last 10 years to take the India-Russia bond further.
• I must say that President Putin’s leadership is commendable and has been key to the bond that the two countries share.

PM Modi Russia Visit Updates: PM Modi On T20 world cup and Olympics

You would have seen India’s incredible win in the recent T20 world cup… and you must have celebrated the win too. That win tells you a lot about the New India. Today’s India never gives up.

India has sent a strong team to the Olympics and we believe they will put their best foot forward.

• The fact that you all walk proudly and are given so much respect – that is the doing of all of you – Of all 140 crore Indians who have earned that respect by the world you all have done and the way in which you conduct yourselves.
• 140 crore Indians are making this resurgence of India possible – they dream big (sapne), they take a pledge (sankalp) and they then make it happen / deliver (siddhi).

• When India hosts the G20 Summit at the scale at which it did, the world takes notice.
• When India electrifies 40,000 km of rail lines, then the world notices India’s power to grow.
• When India launches a solar mission and successfully and takes an L1 orbit, when India lands on the moon, when India builds the world’s highest rail bridge, when India build’s the world’s tallest statue, the world sees a growing India.
• And India can do all this because of the potential and capability of 140 crore Indians – of its talented diaspora in every country of the world.

PM Modi Russia Visit Updates: PM Modi on start-ups in India

• Today, India has the world’s 3rd largest start-up ecosystem.
• Today, India has lakhs and lakhs of start-ups.
• Today, India is filing for patents and publishing research papers in record numbers – and the world is in awe of this.
• The speed at which India is progressing and developing, the world is seeing this in amazement.
• They are witnissing the transformation of India at a record pace.

PM Modi Russia Visit Updates: PM Modi on ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme

• It is our endeavour to ensure that India becomes the 3rd largest economy in the world. It is our aim to build and deliver 3 crore Awas (homes) for the poor.
• It is our aim that 3 crore women from economically backward sections become ‘lakhpati didis’ – that is they earn one lakh per year.
• And as you all know – when New India makes a resolve/promise, then it fulfils those promises.

PM Modi Russia Visit Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses Indian community in Russia

Here are the highlights of his address:

• I want to thank all of you for coming here. 
• I have not come here alone, I have come with a lot of things. I have brought with me the fragrance of the soil of India. I have brought with me the love of 140 crore countrymen.
• This is my first conversation with the Indian diaspora after forming the government for the third time. 
• Today, on 9th July and it has been a full month since I took oath as the PM of India for the third time and I took a vow that I will work with 3 times more strength, at 3 times more speed and it is also a coincidence that the number 3 is also present in many of the government’s goals. 
• The government’s goal is to make India the third largest economy in the world in the third term

Just In| PM Modi meets Indian Community in Russia

• Russia has decided to discharge all Indians working in the Russian army after Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue with President Vladimir Putin during his Moscow visit, said sources.
• At least two Indians have died fighting Russia’s war against Ukraine while dozens stuck in the war zone claim they were tricked into taking up the fighting role.
• PM Modi, who is in Moscow for a two-day visit, raised the issue at a private dinner hosted by Putin last evening, sources said. Russia agreed to discharge all Indians serving in their army and facilitate their return, they added.