Putin Arrives in New Delhi on Two-Day State Visit, Holds High-Stakes Talks with PM Modi

New Delhi, Dec 2025 : Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on a two-day State Visit to India, marking his first trip to the country since the outbreak of the Russia–Ukraine conflict in 2022. In a rare and symbolic diplomatic gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received the Russian leader at the airport, underscoring the enduring strength of the India–Russia relationship.

As President Putin stepped onto the tarmac, the two leaders shared a warm hug before proceeding together from the airport in the same vehicle. They also briefly watched and applauded a traditional cultural performance arranged as part of the official welcome ceremony. Several parts of the national capital were lined with banners welcoming the Russian President, highlighting the significance of the visit.

Later in the evening, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to host President Putin for a private dinner at his official residence, mirroring the hospitality extended by Putin when he received Modi during the latter’s visit to Moscow last year. The gesture reflects the personal rapport between the two leaders, which has played a key role in shaping bilateral ties.

The visit comes at a geopolitically sensitive moment and ahead of the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit, scheduled for Friday. The summit is expected to focus on strengthening defence cooperation, expanding trade and investment, and enhancing collaboration in the energy sector. The meeting is also taking place against the backdrop of recent punitive sanctions imposed by the United States on New Delhi, adding further strategic importance to the engagement.

On Friday, President Putin will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, following which formal delegation-level talks will be held at Hyderabad House. During the day, the Russian President will also lay a wreath at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial at Rajghat, paying tribute to the Father of the Nation.

Ahead of the visit, Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov described the upcoming private dinner discussion between Putin and Prime Minister Modi as “one of the key points of the Russian leader’s visit”, according to Russia’s state-run news agency TASS. Ushakov said the two leaders would deliberate on critical aspects of bilateral relations and the international situation.

Putin is also expected to hold talks with Modi in both restricted and expanded formats, covering a broad range of political, strategic, and economic issues. Key areas of trade and economic cooperation will be discussed, and several bilateral agreements are likely to be signed during the visit. According to Ushakov, India and Russia plan to finalise a programme for the development of strategic economic cooperation until 2030.

The visit is also expected to yield agreements aimed at facilitating the movement of Indian workers to Russia. In addition, the two sides may deliberate on India’s proposed free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union, a key objective for New Delhi in its efforts to deepen economic engagement with the region.

Following the summit with Prime Minister Modi, President Putin will attend a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. He is also scheduled to launch a new India channel of Russia’s state-run broadcaster RT, signalling an expansion of media cooperation and soft-power engagement between the two countries.

In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the State Visit would provide an opportunity for the leadership of both nations to review progress in bilateral relations, set a future roadmap for strengthening the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Russia has been a longstanding and trusted strategic partner of India, with relations forming a cornerstone of India’s foreign policy. Since the signing of the “Declaration on the India–Russia Strategic Partnership” in October 2000, bilateral ties have acquired a new dimension, with expanding cooperation in sectors including politics, security, defence, trade and economy, science and technology, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

President Putin’s visit is expected to further consolidate this time-tested partnership at a moment of evolving global power dynamics.

Team Maverick.