Putin and Modi held informal talks at the Kremlin leader's residence

(Patria) - Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi late last night and
gave him a tour of his residence outside Moscow ahead of official talks in the Kremlin today.

Putin hugged Modi at his home in Novo-Ogaryovo, greeting him as his "dear friend" and saying he was "very happy" to see him, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

"Our official talks are tomorrow, while today in this comfortable, pleasant setting we can probably discuss the same issues, but informally," Putin said, as reported by Reuters.

The Russian president offered Modi, who is on his first visit to Russia in five years, tea, berries and sweets, and took him on a tour of the grounds in a motor vehicle.

Modi's trip to Moscow and India's relations with Russia amid the war Russia is waging against Ukraine have raised concerns, the US State Department said. India, which has had close ties with Moscow for decades, has refused to condemn Russia for the war and instead calls for an end to the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.

Russian state news agencies reported that Putin and Modi visited a stable at the residence and
watched a performance with horses.

A senior Indian official said last week that addressing India's trade imbalance with Russia and securing the release of Indian nationals who were "misled" into fighting in the Ukraine war would be among Modi's main priorities in Moscow.

India, which has ties with Moscow dating back to the Soviet era, has increased purchases of cheap Russian oil to record levels.