India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met Yury Borisov, Deputy Prime Minister of Russian Federation in Moscow and had ‘very positive and productive’ discussions on June 23, 2020. Singh and Borisov reviewed the defence cooperation between the two nations and discussed ways to expand it.

Borisov is the co-chair of the Inter-Governmental Commission with India on Trade & Economic & Scientific Cooperation. He also co-chairs the High Level Committee on Science & Technology with the Defence Minister. Both the ministers had a constructive dialogue on bilateral cooperation and regional issues.

I can say with confidence that the traditional friendship between India & Russia remain strong.

Our mutual interests are solid and we look to future cooperation in the spirit of our special friendship.

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 23, 2020

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh echoed his confidence that the traditional friendship between India & Russia remains strong, the mutual interests of both the nations are solid and future cooperation is ensured in the spirit of this special friendship. India & Russia enjoy special and privileged strategic partnership and defence relationship is one of its important pillars, he added.

“This is a sign of our special friendship. Despite all the difficulties of the pandemic, our bilateral relations are keeping good contacts at the various levels. We look forward to the visit of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, later this year,” stated the Defence Minister.

Rajnath Singh also had a media interaction where he mentioned that his visit to Moscow is the first foreign visit of an official delegation from India after the COVID pandemic. “This is a sign of our special friendship. Despite all the difficulties of the pandemic, our bilateral relations are keeping good contacts at various levels. We look forward to the visit of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to India, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, later this year,” stated the Defence Minister.

Further talking about India-Russia relations, he said, “I had an opportunity to review our defence relationship with Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov and I thank him for the honour of visiting me in this hotel, despite the restrictions of the pandemic. My discussions were very positive and productive. I have been assured that ongoing contracts will be maintained and not just maintained, in a number of cases will be taken forward in a shorter time.” He also underlined his satisfaction with the discussion and said that all the proposals have received positive responses from the Russian side.

In the morning hours of the same day, India’s Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar also had discussions with his counterpart Deputy Defence Minister Col. General A. V. Fomin where both of them agreed to strengthen multifaceted ties between the two countries.

Rajnath Singh is on a three-day visit to Moscow at the invitation of the Russian Defence Minister to attend the 75th Anniversary of Victory Day Parade. He conveyed his greetings for solemn ceremonies of 75th Victory Day in World War II and congratulated the friendly people of Russia, especially the veterans, who have contributed so much to the common security of India and Russia.

In the morning hours of the same day, India’s Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar also had discussions with his counterpart Deputy Defence Minister Col. General A. V. Fomin where both of them agreed to strengthen multifaceted ties between the two countries.

“This Parade is the most auspicious occasion for Russia and the whole world, as we remember and pay tribute to the immense sacrifice of the Russian people for victory in the Second World War. Indian soldiers participated in the war efforts in the millions and suffered immense casualties. Many of them were part of the war efforts to provide assistance to the Soviet Army. Therefore, it is a great honor that an Indian Military contingent will be marching in the Red Square tomorrow. This is a sign of everlasting friendship between the armed forces of both our countries,” Singh stated.

Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh visited the Victory Park - a monument dedicated to Russia's victory in World War II during his 3-day visit to Russia. pic.twitter.com/nSMYslzeI0

— ADG (M&C) DPR (@SpokespersonMoD) June 23, 2020

Yury Borisov said, "We highly appreciate the decision of the Indian side, despite current circumstances, to not cancel participation of their military personnel in celebrations on the Red Square."

On his first day of this significant visit to Russia, Rajnath Singh also had a stopover at the Victory Park, a monument dedicated to Russia's victory in World War II. He also visited the Indian Embassy in Moscow and paid his humble tributes to Mahatma Gandhi by laying a wreath at his statue. Interestingly, the statue's sculptor Dmitry Ryabichev was a World War II veteran, who had gone to defend his motherland at the age of 16 and fought till the victory.