Putin arrives on two-day visit to attend India-Russia annual meet

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on a two-day state visit to India with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a special gesture, receiving him at the airport.

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The two leaders warmly hugged and greeted each other at the tarmac before leaving the airport together in the same vehicle.

They also briefly watched and applauded a cultural performance as part of the welcome ceremony.

New Delhi has been lined with banners welcoming the Russian leader, marking the beginning of an engagement that carries significant diplomatic weight.

Later in the evening, Modi hosted Putin for a private dinner at his residence, mirroring the gesture the Russian President made when he hosted Modi during the latter's visit to Moscow last year. This marks Putin's first trip to India since Russia’s war with Ukraine started in 2022.

The 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, scheduled for Friday, comes at a time when the US has imposed punitive sanctions on New Delhi, and will focus on strengthening defence cooperation, along with discussions on trade and energy partnerships.

On Friday, the Russian President will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan ahead of the formal talks that will take place at the Hyderabad House. Putin will also lay a wreath at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial.