New Delhi, 5 December (H.S.): Russian President Vladimir Putin touched down at New Delhi's Palam Technical Airport on Thursday evening, marking his first state visit to India in over four years since the Ukraine conflict erupted in February 2022, greeted personally by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a display of profound diplomatic camaraderie.
The two leaders shared a car ride from the tarmac to Modi's residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, where a private dinner unfolded under the glow of bilateral flags, culminating in Modi's poignant gift of a Russian-translated Bhagavad Gita.
In a late-night X post, PM Modi reflected, Presented a copy of the Gita in Russian to President Putin. The teachings of the Gita give inspiration to millions across the world, underscoring the timeless philosophical bond fortifying India-Russia ties.
Packed Friday Itinerary Signals Strategic Momentum
Putin's meticulously orchestrated Friday schedule, commencing at Rashtrapati Bhavan, embodies the pulsating rhythm of high-stakes diplomacy on this crisp December morning.
At 1100 hrs, he receives a grand ceremonial welcome in the forecourt, followed by a solemn wreath-laying at Rajghat around 1130 hrs to honor Mahatma Gandhi's legacy of non-violence.
Bilateral summit talks with Modi ensue at Hyderabad House by 1200 hrs, enriched by a working lunch, before Putin addresses the India-Russia Business Forum at Bharat Mandapam at 1540 hrs, spotlighting defence pacts like S-400 systems and Sukhoi-57 jets, alongside economic roadmaps to 2030, Eurasian FTA progress, Arctic shipbuilding ventures, and labour mobility accords.
The day crescendos with Putin joining the RT television channel launch in India, a nod to burgeoning media ties, prior to a 1900 hrs meeting with President Droupadi Murmu and a lavish state banquet in his honour at Rashtrapati Bhavan, paving the way for his 2100 hrs departure after anticipated joint statements and multi-sector agreements.
Amid surging bilateral trade—peaking at USD 68.7 billion in FY 2024-25, albeit skewed by oil imports—the leaders navigate US tariff headwinds while prioritizing nuclear energy, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, and visa-free tourist access.
This 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit reaffirms a special and privileged strategic partnership, poised to chart resilient paths through global turbulence.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
