Sipu Jha
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a joint press statement after their meeting at the Hyderabad House, in New Delhi. (PTI Photo/Salman Ali)
NEW DELHI: Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded his two-day state visit to India on Friday with a special dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This was his first trip to India since December 2021—and his first since the Ukraine war began in February 2022—during which he attended the 23rd annual summit between the two nations in Delhi.Earlier in the day, Putin was accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan before proceeding to Hyderabad House for bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His first presidential visit to India took place in October 2000, when he travelled to Delhi and Agra.Here are the key takeaways from his visit:
- PM breaks protocol: Upon his arrival on Thursday evening, Putin was received at Palam airport by PM Modi, who broke protocol to welcome him personally — a gesture that underscored the unusual warmth and longstanding rapport between the two leaders.
- ‘Carpooling’: The two leaders then “carpooled” to the prime minister’s residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg for a private dinner. The gesture echoed their earlier ride together in Putin’s car to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit venue in Tianjin last September, a small but telling display of the easy camaraderie they often share.
- The Bhagwad Gita: After the private dinner, the prime minister presented his guest with a Russian edition of the Bhagwad Gita. Sharing a photograph from their interaction, PM Modi highlighted the universal appeal of the scripture. “Presented a copy of the Gita in Russian to President Putin. The teachings of the Gita offer inspiration to millions across the world,” he wrote.
- Rajghat visit: Putin also went to Rajghat and paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
- PM’s message on Ukraine: During their talks, PM Modi underscored that on the Ukraine conflict, India is “not neutral” but “on the side of peace.” He said, “Whenever I have interacted with world leaders, I have always made it clear that India is not neutral. India has a side, and that side is peace. We support all efforts aimed at peace, and we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with every initiative that furthers it.”
- Putin ‘grateful’ to India: The Russian leader responded by saying he was “grateful” for the attention India was giving to peace efforts on Ukraine. He added that Russia and India continue to cooperate closely across multiple sectors, including defence, space exploration, artificial intelligence and several other strategic areas.
- India’s Russian oil conundrum: With New Delhi facing US tariffs of 50 per cent — half of them linked to its purchase of Russian oil — Putin sent a pointed message to the West, particularly Washington, by declaring that Moscow is ready to ensure “uninterrupted shipments of fuel to India.”
- List of outcomes: Overall, according to the Ministry of External Affairs, a total of 16 agreements were signed during the state visit.
- Economic Cooperation: During their joint briefing, the prime minister announced a new economic cooperation programme aimed at expanding bilateral trade volume to $100 billion through 2030 — a significant boost to ties between the two countries. “Taking the India–Russia economic partnership to new heights is our common priority,” PM Modi said.
- Free Trade Agreement: Speaking at a business forum later, PM Modi noted that discussions have begun on Free Trade Agreement between India and Eurasian Economic Union (Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan).
- Putin echoes ‘Sabka Saath…‘: During the Rashtrapati Bhavan dinner, Putin invoked Prime Minister Modi’s trademark slogan “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” (striving together for inclusive growth), applying it to the India–Russia partnership. “I know in India you say ‘Go Together, Grow Together’ (Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas), which truly reflects the nature and character of Russia–India relations,” he remarked.
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