President Patil arrives in Moscow

She will also travel to Tajikistan during her week-long two-nation tour. Patil, who is leading a large delegation including Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the airport.

During her four-day stay in Russia, she will hold talks with President Dmitry Medvedev on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will also meet her. Ahead of her visit, Patil said India "is committed to develop relations of close and large-scale bilateral cooperation and partnership with Russia."

In an interview to Russian news agency Itar-Tass, she underlined that "despite the serious situation and changes that emerged over the past decades in the global geo-political situation, India and Russia remain close friends and partners, while our desire to consolidate our relations are constantly confirmed at top political level."