Russia and India sign several historic pacts across defense and trade as PM Narendra Modi welcomes President Vladimir Putin.
New Delhi: In a heart-warming gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received President Vladimir Putin at Palam Airport here as he arrived on a two-day visit to India. The two leaders exchanged a warm handshake, shared a hug, and greeted each other before leaving together in the same car.
“Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India. Looking forward to our interactions… India-Russia friendship is a time-tested one that has greatly benefited our people,” said PM Modi in a post on X.
State-sponsored RT, earlier known as Russia Today, reported, “Modi has broken protocol to meet the Russian leader, whom he calls his friend, personally upon his disembarkation.”
To commemorate this special edition of the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, a tradition dating back to 2000, the President will also launch RT India on Friday, December 5.
During the two-day visit, which is the Russian President’s first visit to India since the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia and India signed several historic agreements to enhance cooperation between the two countries in various areas, including defence, healthcare, and trade.
After a private dinner with PM Modi on Thursday, Putin attended a ceremonial reception hosted by President Droupadi Murmu on Friday. Putin later met PM Modi at the Hyderabad House, the venue for the 23rd Annual India-Russia Summit. The talks focused on deepening defense ties, as well as trade and energy cooperation. Trade was the key focus during the visit.
Russia-India bilateral trade has touched $63 billion, with a target of crossing $100 billion before 2030.
Putin was also expected to apprise Modi of the ongoing US effort to forge a peace deal to bring an end to the Ukraine conflict. Ahead of his arrival, he gave a strict warning about the Ukraine war, saying that Moscow will only end the operation “after achieving its goals”.
In an interview with India Today, Putin criticized the West, saying that Russia did not start the Ukraine war, but it was Kyiv’s action, which dragged Russia into the conflict, which has been running for almost four years.
PM Modi and the Russian President have held five telephone conversations in 2025, and held a meeting earlier this year on the sidelines of the SCO Heads of State Council Meeting in Tianjin, China, on September 1.
The 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit marks the 25th anniversary of the declaration on strategic partnership. "This visit is of great importance, as it provides an opportunity to discuss the entire extensive scope of Russia-India special and privileged strategic partnership in politics, trade and economy, science and technology, as well as cultural and humanitarian affairs, in addition to addressing current international and regional issues," the Kremlin stated.
Putin’s visit to strengthen new global order
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India was expected to mark a “very, very important meeting” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, one that could strengthen stability and contribute to the emerging global order, said experts.
The dialogue carries significant weight for both nations and could give a fresh boost to India-Russia economic engagement. The meeting had the potential to enhance bilateral trade and investment while reinforcing the long-standing strategic partnership between the two countries.
India and Russia share a relationship built not only on stability but a deep historical shared interests. Stronger trade links and deeper energy cooperation will help both economies grow in an uncertain and fast-changing geopolitical environment.
