New Delhi, 4 December (H.S.): Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening for a highly significant two-day visit, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received him at Palam Air Force Station with a warm hug, breaking diplomatic protocol to signal the strength of their bilateral relationship.
Putin’s arrival around 6:35 pm IST marked his first visit to India since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In a rare display of camaraderie, the two leaders shared a car ride, symbolizing their longstanding and close rapport.
Later in the evening, Prime Minister Modi will host a private dinner for Putin at his residence, continuing the tradition of mutual hospitality following Modi’s recent visit to Moscow.
Friday’s agenda features a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, a wreath-laying ceremony at Rajghat honoring Mahatma Gandhi, and high-level talks at Hyderabad House. The discussions are expected to culminate in the signing of several agreements, a joint media statement, and a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu before Putin’s departure that night.
Key focus areas include expanding defence cooperation with possible deals on Su-57 fighter jets, S-500 air defence systems, next-generation BrahMos missiles, and S-400 expansions. Economic discussions aim to address India’s $59 billion trade deficit with Russia by boosting exports in pharmaceuticals, automobiles, agriculture, and energy, amid increasing US scrutiny over India’s import of Russian crude.
This 27-hour visit assumes added weight amid cooling India–US relations, reaffirming the “special and privileged strategic partnership” between India and Russia. Putin is accompanied by seven cabinet ministers, underscoring the visit’s economic and security significance.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
