PM Modi in Moscow, Prez Putin hosts him for private dinner ahead of talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday night hosted a private dinner for Prime Minister Narendra Modi hours after he arrived in Moscow on a two-day high-profile visit in his first trip to Russia since its invasion of Ukraine over two years back. The focus of the prime minister's visit is on an economic agenda including cooperation in areas of energy, trade, manufacturing, fertilisers, and that a 'solution cannot be found on the battlefield', top sources said, indicating that Ukraine conflict will figure prominently in Modi-Putin talks. The two leaders will hold wide-ranging talks at the 22nd India-Russia annual summit on Tuesday that is largely being seen in the context of wider geopolitical turmoil arising out of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Shortly after landing in Moscow, Modi said he is looking forward to deepening bilateral partnership in futuristic areas and that stronger ties between India and Russia will "greatly benefit our people". India seeks to play a "supportiv