Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Moscow, Indian ambassador to Russia Pankaj Saran has allayed apprehension that the Putin regime would not do anything to jeopardise country's national interest. Picture courtesy ANI
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Moscow, Indian ambassador to Russia Pankaj Saran has allayed apprehension that the Putin regime would not do anything to jeopardise country's national interest.
Modi, who is on a foreign tour, will meet President Vladimir Putin on Thursday prior to 18th India-Russia Annual Summit in Saint Petersburg amidst concerns over Moscow's interest in India's immediate neighbour visible in first ever joint military exercise with Pakistan last September.
"Our relations with Russia are very old, very deep, based on mutual trust. These relations are based on firm and strong foundation. We have to look at how we can strengthen our own relations and not really focus our attention on what third countries are doing," Saran told ANI in Moscow on Russian-Pakistan ties.
The ambassador also expressed confidence that "Russia will not do anything that will affect India's national interests". Despite changing global alliance throwing new equations, Saran said till the two countries respect each other's "core vital national interests", everything else is understood.
From Wednesday, the PM will be Russia for three days. He will visit Piskarovskoye Cemetery to honour those who lost their lives during the Siege of Leningrad (1941-1944). The leaders of the two countries will address the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
The PM is on a six-day tour of Germany, Spain, Russia and France which will come to an end towards the weekend.