04 December,2025 07:37 PM IST | Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
PM Modi receives President Putin at Palam Airport in New Delhi, on Thursday. Pic/PTI
In a rare diplomatic gesture underscoring the strong ties between India and Russia, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi personally received Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Delhi Airport on Thursday, departing from standard protocol.
The gesture highlights the strategic partnership and close rapport between the two leaders. President Putin arrived in India on Thursday for a two-day state visit.
Their last interaction took place at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, on September 1, where the bonhomie between the two leaders was evident. PM Modi and President Putin had shared a car ride to the venue of their bilateral meeting in the Russian President's Aurus Senat. Putin had waited for about 10 minutes for PM Modi to join him for the drive.
Upon landing in India, President Putin received a ceremonial welcome, reaffirming the strong diplomatic relationship between the two nations. His visit comes at a time when Russia seeks to maintain global influence despite increasing Western isolation.
The two-day engagement reflects India's strategic balancing in global politics, strengthening ties with Russia even as it manages its relationships with Western countries. Key discussions are expected to cover the Ukraine conflict, the situation in Afghanistan, and ways to expand the India-Russia Strategic Partnership.
This is President Putin's first visit to India since 2021 and his first since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The visit is expected to revive momentum in trade, defence cooperation, and energy partnerships. Delhi and Moscow are likely to sign multiple agreements, coming months after the United States stepped up pressure on India to reduce its imports of Russian oil.
Putin is scheduled to receive a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday and lay a wreath at Rajghat. He will later hold talks with Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House, followed by press statements. He is also slated to attend a business event and thereafter meet President Droupadi Murmu.
According to government sources, President Putin's state visit will significantly bolster economic cooperation. He is accompanied by a large delegation of business leaders. India is working to reduce its trade deficit with Russia, with several plans under discussion to increase Indian exports - particularly pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and agricultural and marine products.
Sources added that Indian businesses are expected to gain a larger market share in Russia, contributing to job creation and supporting farmers. Multiple agreements and MoUs are anticipated in the areas of shipping, healthcare, fertilisers, and connectivity.
Further collaboration is expected in people-to-people ties, mobility partnerships, culture, and scientific research.
Earlier, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov had expressed confidence that Russia and India could achieve their joint target of USD 100 billion in trade turnover by 2030, citing rapid recent growth and expanding cooperation across sectors.
President Putin's visit also recalls his long-standing friendship with Prime Minister Modi, which spans nearly 25 years. In 2001, Modi - then the Chief Minister of Gujarat - had accompanied then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Moscow.
(With ANI inputs)
