MOSCOW, July 8 (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi late on Monday and toured him around his residence outside Moscow ahead of official talks in the Kremlin on Tuesday.
Putin embraced the Indian leader at his home at Novo-Ogaryovo, greeted him as his “dear friend” and said he was “very happy” to see him, according to an account by Russia’s TASS state news agency.
“Our official talks are tomorrow, while today in this comfortable, cozy setting we can probably discuss the same issues, but unofficially,” TASS quoted Putin as saying.
The Russian president offered Modi, who is on his first visit to Russia in five years, tea, berries and sweets and took him on a tour of the grounds in a motorised cart.
Russian state news agencies said Putin and Modi visited the residence’s stable and watched a show with performing horses.
India, which has links with Moscow dating from the Soviet era, has increased purchases of cheap Russian oil to record levels.
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Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Bernadette Baum, Ron Popeski and Rod Nickel
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Vikram Sharma is a globe-trotting journalist with a global perspective on international events. His articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing insights into the world’s most pressing challenges.