DELHI DEC 04: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Delhi on Thursday evening, marking his first visit to India since the outbreak of the Ukraine war in February 2022. The two-day state visit centers around the 23rd India–Russia summit, highlighting efforts to deepen the longstanding strategic partnership between the two nations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly welcomed Putin, hosting a private dinner on Thursday night—a return gesture following Modi’s visit to Moscow last year. On Friday, Putin is to receive a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by a working lunch hosted by PM Modi at Hyderabad House, the summit venue. The Russian leader is also slated to visit Rajghat before concluding his visit around 9:30 pm Friday.
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the visit offers an opportunity to review bilateral progress and reinforce the “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership,” with discussions set to include regional and global issues of mutual interest. During the summit, both sides are expected to sign 10 intergovernmental documents and more than 15 agreements and memorandums involving commercial and non-commercial entities.
Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov described the visit as a “major step toward deepening the strategic partnership,” marking a return to the tradition of annual high-level summits. Key topics include strengthening defense cooperation, insulating India–Russia trade from external pressures, and exploring collaboration on small modular reactors. Western countries will closely monitor the talks amid ongoing international tensions.
Additionally, Putin will officially launch the Indian channel of the Russian state broadcaster RT at an event in Delhi, followed by a state dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. In the lead-up to the visit, the Russian House in New Delhi held a photo exhibition celebrating 25 years of military-technical cooperation, showcasing key defense systems exchanged between India and Russia such as BrahMos missiles and the S-400 missile system.
Putin’s nearly 28-hour visit signals a continued commitment to reinforcing multifaceted India-Russia ties in a complex geopolitical environment.
