New Delhi, 4 December (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended a profoundly personal welcome to his longtime ally, Russian President Vladimir Putin, upon the latter's arrival at Palam Technical Airport this evening, underscoring the enduring resilience of India-Russia ties amid global geopolitical flux.
In a striking departure from protocol that reportedly caught the Russian delegation off guard, Modi personally ascended the aircraft ramp to greet Putin with a firm handshake and heartfelt embrace, before the two leaders proceeded together in a single vehicle to the Prime Minister's official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg.
This intimate gesture, reciprocating Putin's hospitality during Modi's Moscow visit last year, sets the stage for a private dinner hosted by Modi tonight, where preliminary discussions on bilateral priorities are anticipated.
Modi's official welcome message, shared via social media and tagged to the Kremlin, captured the essence of this time-tested friendship: Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India. Looking forward to our interactions later this evening and tomorrow. India-Russia friendship is a time tested one that has greatly benefitted our people.
The statement eloquently reaffirms decades of strategic collaboration that has delivered tangible gains for citizens of both nations across defence, energy, and trade domains.
Putin's two-day state visit, his first to India since 2021 and coinciding with the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, arrives against a backdrop of intensified US scrutiny over New Delhi's continued Russian oil imports and defence procurements.
Accompanied by Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Putin is poised for high-level engagements tomorrow, including a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, tributes at Rajghat, delegation-level talks with Modi at Hyderabad House, and a joint press statement, culminating in over a dozen anticipated agreements.
This summit reaffirms India's commitment to strategic autonomy while advancing mutual interests in diversified trade and cutting-edge technologies like small modular reactors.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
