MOSCOW, December 27. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Russia.

"We will be glad to see our friend, Mr. Prime Minister [of India] Modi in Russia," the president said at a meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. "We will be able to discuss all current issues, talk about the outlook for the development of Russian-Indian relations. We have a very large amount of work to do."

He asked the Indian foreign minister to pass on to Modi "his best wishes" and an invitation to come to Russia.

Putin said, as he extended the invitation, that he realized India will be busy with internal affairs next year as the country is poised to hold a nationwide parliamentary election.