Russia’s State Duma chairman Vyacheslav Volodin arrives in India

Chairman of Russia’s State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin, arrived in New Delhi for an official visit ahead of a likely visit by Russian President Valdimir Putin for the annual India-Russia leaders’ summit later this year.

Putin is expected to travel to India this year but the two sides are yet to finalise the dates for what will be his first visit to India since the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in February 2022.

The Russian Embassy in New Delhi put out a post on X in the wee hours of Monday saying, “Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin arrived on an official visit to India. In New Delhi, issues of Russia-India cooperation in economic, cultural, educational & technological spheres, as well as the development of inter-parliamentary dialogue will be discussed.”

The Duma is the lower House of the Russian Parliament.

In New Delhi, Volodin will meet Indian leadership and visit both houses of Parliament.

Earlier before leaving Moscow, Volodin was quoted by an international news agency saying, “Attempts by Washington and Brussels (European Union) to isolate Russia from the rest of the world have failed. India is a strategic partner. We have long-standing relations of trust and mutually beneficial cooperation with it.”

Putin’s visit is significant as it would project a continued strengthening of Russia-India ties. Preparations for the trip have already begun, with recent meetings between Indian and Russian officials to discuss the agenda.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing for his visit to the US in mid-February. This comes in the backdrop of fresh sanctions the US imposed on Russia, targeting Russian oil companies and Russian oil-carrying vessels.