NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday personally received Russian President Vladimir Putin at Delhi’s Palam Airport, marking the start of Putin’s two-day state visit to India. PM Modi welcomed the Russian leader with a handshake followed by a warm embrace before both leaders departed from the airport in the same vehicle, symbolising the close strategic and personal ties between the two nations. Putin’s aircraft landed in Delhi at, shortly after PM Modi arrived at the airport to receive him. The welcome ceremony included flex boards and Russian flags placed around the airbase, and a multi-layered security grid deployed by Delhi Police, Special Protection Group (SPG), and Russian security personnel.The two leaders will co-chair the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit, during which more than 10 inter-governmental agreements and over 15 commercial MoUs are expected to be signed. According to government sources, the focus of the visit includes trade expansion, healthcare cooperation, fertilisers, shipping, agriculture, connectivity, and mobility partnerships.

India–Russia ties in spotlight amid global uncertainty

Ahead of Putin’s arrival, defence minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that despite global instability, India–Russia defence cooperation “is moving at a healthy pace.” He underlined continuing ties in military exchanges and welcomed progress toward a Free Trade Agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union.Russian defence minister Andrei Belousov reciprocated, calling India a partner bound by “a solid, time-proven friendship” based on “mutual respect” and cultural closeness.During his visit, Putin will attend a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu and is expected to launch the Indian edition of Russian media network RT at an event in Delhi. He will also visit Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.