Modi-Putin 2022 annual in-person summit called off

Modi was scheduled to travel to Russia for the annual summit, which takes place alternatively in Russia and India every year.

Bloomberg News reported earlier on Friday that the decision to cancel the summit was taken after veiled threats by Putin to use nuclear weapons in the Ukraine war.

So far, 21 annual summits have taken place alternatively in India and Russia. It could not take place in 2020 due to the Covid pandemic.

The last summit was held on December 6, 2021, in New Delhi.

The annual summit between the Indian prime minister and the Russian president is the highest institutionalised dialogue mechanism in the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Modi and Putin last met on the sidelines of the SCO meet on September 16 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. In his face-to-face talk with the Russian President, Modi had told Putin this wasn't the era of war but peace in context of Russia-Ukraine war.

According to reports, Modi and Putin have been in touch through telephone conversations.

This year, the leaders spoke over the telephone three times since February 24.

While India has not explicitly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it has sought an international probe into the Bucha massacre as well as aired its concerns over the nuclear threats issued by Russian leaders.