India PM starts Austria visit with Russia-Ukraine war in focus


VIENNA, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a state visit to Austria on Tuesday, the first trip to Vienna by a sitting Indian premier in more than 40 years, where high-level talks are expected to revolve around the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Chancellor Karl Nehammer plans to discuss the Indian prime minister’s fresh visit to Russia amid Moscow’s war with Ukraine, which has raged for more than two years, according to a statement by his office.

In Moscow, the Indian prime minister vowed that New Delhi would vigorously pursue efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, while his visit to Vienna aims to ratchet up trade relations that were worth some 2.7 billion euros last year.

Vienna has not welcomed an Indian premier in more than four decades , as Modi’s visit comes against the backdrop of 75 years of the establishment of bilateral relations.

Source: Kuwait News Agency