When CM Modi met Putin: Pictures from PM's 2001 Russia trip

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi commenced his high-profile visit to Russia, images from his first trip to Moscow resurfaced.
PM Modi's first visit to Russia took place on November 6, 2001, when he served as the chief minister of Gujarat and joined Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Moscow for the India-Russia summit with President Vladimir Putin.
In one of the pictures shared by Modi Archive, PM Modi can be seen sitting with Vajpayee and young Putin signing a document.

In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reminisced about his 2001 visit to Russia as Gujarat chief minister, accompanying then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's delegation that met with President Vladimir Putin.
Modi shared four photographs on Twitter, two from the 2001 visit and two from the current trip.

Previously, Modi stated: "I had the opportunity to meet President Putin for the first time in 2001. I came to Moscow with then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I was the Chief Minister of a state (Gujarat), and this was our first meeting. However, Putin did not make me feel like I was less important; that I was from a small state or that I am new. He treated me amicably, as a friend. This opened the doors of friendship."
"We have discussed not only the issues related to our states; we have talked about various issues, our hobbies, global issues. We talked openly, as partners. He is a very interesting person to talk to, and I admit that we have very enlightening conversations."
This marks Modi's first trip to Russia since 2019 and the first following the commencement of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Upon concluding his engagements in Russia on July 9, PM Modi will depart for Austria, marking the first visit by an Indian prime minister to that nation in more than 40 years. Modi and Putin are set to explore avenues for further expanding bilateral relations across various sectors, including trade, energy, and defence, during the 22nd India-Russia annual summit on Tuesday.