Tuesday marked the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Austria following his two-day visit to Russia. Notably, this is the first visit to Austria by an Indian prime minister in 41 years. The final prime minister to visit the nation was Indira Gandhi in 1983.In Vienna, Modi is scheduled to meet with Chancellor Karl Nehammer and President Alexander Van der Bellen of Austria.
Concluding High-Profile Visit to Russia
Modi wrapped off his two days of high-profile travel to Russia earlier in the day, when he was present at President Vladimir Putin‘s 22nd India-Russia annual meeting. His first visit to the nation since its invasion of Ukraine was this one.
Prime Minister Modi lauded Russia’s support for India during the visit, referring to it as India’s “all-weather friend” and praising President Putin for forging closer connections between the two nations during the previous 20 years. Additionally, Modi met with Russian President Putin in the Kremlin, where he reaffirmed India’s support for peace and readiness to assist in putting an end to the crisis in Ukraine.
Condemning the Attack on Kyiv Children’s Hospital
A day after an apparent Russian missile attacked a children’s hospital in Kyiv, sparking international outcry, Modi remarked that the loss of innocent children is heartbreaking and extremely sad.
“Let’s take terrorism, war, or any other conflict. Anyone who has faith in mankind is hurt when people perish, especially innocent children. The heart just bursts with such anguish, and I had the chance to discuss these matters with you yesterday,” Modi said to Putin.
President Putin also ceremoniously awarded Modi the highest civilian honor in Russia, the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called. Notably, PM Modi was given the honor in 2019, but he really accepted it today.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Russia’s highlights
At the close of his momentous two-day tour, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Vladimir Putin for the 22nd India-Russia annual summit. Increasing bilateral cooperation in a number of areas, such as energy, commerce, manufacturing, and fertilizers, was the main topic of discussion. The closeness of bilateral relations was shown by President Putin’s hosting of a special dinner for Prime Minister Modi during the visit. Another important subject of conversation was the continuing war in Ukraine, to which Modi emphasized that diplomatic conversations rather than forceful action are the only path to a peaceful conclusion.
Mutual Commitment to Diplomatic Solutions
President Putin thanked Modi for India’s efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine conflict and emphasized their shared commitment to tackling world issues via communication.
Awarding of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle
President Putin bestowed onto Modi the esteemed “Order of St Andrew the Apostle” honor in appreciation of his efforts to fortify Indo-Russian ties, highlighting its announcement in 2019.
