Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in India, marking his first visit to the country in four years. His visit comes at a time of shifting global dynamics and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, with economic engagement expected to dominate the agenda.
Putin’s arrival on Thursday evening will be followed by an intimate dinner with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During this meeting, the two leaders are set to take stock of their long-standing “special and privileged strategic partnership” covering defence cooperation, energy supplies, expanding commerce, and emerging areas of collaboration, reports Times of India.
They will also discuss major international and regional developments, including the situations in the Indo-Pacific and Eurasia.
The Russian president’s key engagements are scheduled for Friday. He will start the morning at Rajghat, where he will lay a wreath in honour of Mahatma Gandhi, a traditional gesture for visiting world leaders.
A ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan will follow, before the delegation proceeds to Hyderabad House for high-level discussions. Modi and Putin are expected to explore ways to deepen economic linkages, strengthen trade corridors, and enhance cooperation in technology, space, logistics, and innovation.
After a working lunch with the Indian prime minister, Putin is slated to speak at the India-Russia Business Forum, an event aimed at boosting private-sector participation and investment opportunities.
Later in the evening, he will return to Rashtrapati Bhavan for a state banquet hosted by Indian President Droupadi Murmu, after which he is scheduled to leave around 9:30pm.
Putin’s aide has confirmed that the visit will end with a joint statement and the signing of multiple bilateral agreements.
One of the key documents is the Programme for the Development of Strategic Areas of Russian-Indian Economic Cooperation until 2030, which is intended to guide long-term trade and industrial ties.
According to the aide, discussions will place special emphasis on trade. Bilateral commerce reached $63.6 billion in 2024, a 12 percent rise, mainly fuelled by energy, fertilisers, and machinery.
“We have many large-scale promising projects in various areas,” he said, listing industrial cooperation, innovative technologies, peaceful space exploration, transport, mining, healthcare, and labour migration programmes among the priorities.
Modi and Putin held five phone conversations in 2024 and last met in-person on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Tianjin.
Despite global uncertainties, the India-Russia partnership continues to evolve, maintaining traditional defence ties while expanding into newer domains such as technology, clean energy, education, and workforce mobility.
