Modi Austria visit highlights: PM arrives in Vienna

Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon his arrival in Vienna.

Modi Austria visit highlights: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday arrived in Austria after concluding his two-day visit to Russia. Earlier in the day, he held bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking the second day of his visit.

During his meeting, PM Modi assured Putin that India is in favour of peace. The prime minister said that peace talks cannot succeed amid bombs, guns and bullets. It was the second interaction between the two leaders in two days.

Modi also addressed the Indian diaspora in Moscow. At a jam packed event, the prime minister called Russia an ‘all-weather friend’. He also said that he will work three times harder in his third term as prime minister.

On Monday, Modi was accorded a state of honour upon his touchdown at the Moscow airport. Later, he met Russian president Vladimir Putin who hosted a private dinner for him. Putin expressed gratitude for hosting PM Modi and said, You are welcome here, friend. I'm really happy to see you." Putin took PM Modi on a ride in his electric car around his residence, Novo-Ogaryovo. The Russian Embassy in India shared a video of the two leaders enjoying the drive, which followed a conversation between them.

Russia has broadly heeded to India's call to end the recruitment of Indians as support staff to the Russian military and ensure the return of those still operating in the force, top sources said on Tuesday.

PM Modi and Putin have met 16 times over the past 10 years. The last in-person meeting between the two leaders took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Uzbekistan's Samarkand in 2022.