Putin to get grand Indian reception
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in New Delhi on Thursday for a tightly choreographed two-day state visit that underscores the durability of the India–Russia partnership at a time of shifting global alignments and rising geopolitical pressures. This will be Putin’s first trip to India since 2021.
Upon landing in the Indian capital, Putin will be received by senior government officials, though the final reception protocol remains undisclosed. Once in the city, he will head directly to his hotel before attending a private dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday night—a hallmark of the personal rapport the two leaders have cultivated over the years. The meeting, held away from cameras, is expected to set the tone for the formal engagements that follow.
Friday will see the full ceremonial protocol of a state visit. President Putin will receive a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
He will then pay homage at Raj Ghat, laying a wreath at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi—an almost obligatory stop for visiting heads of state and government.
The core discussions will take place at Hyderabad House. A restricted-format meeting, limited to small teams on both sides, will allow Modi and Putin to hold candid talks before larger delegation-level discussions begin. According to Indian officials, agreements are expected in trade, economic cooperation, healthcare, media, and particularly a mobility pact designed to ease travel for Indian citizens to Russia. Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has indicated that bolstering defence and trade ties will be central to the agenda.
A joint statement and press briefing will follow a working lunch hosted by Prime Minister Modi. Parallel to the official meetings, business leaders from both nations will convene to explore new investments—Indian companies eyeing opportunities in Russia’s resource-rich Far East, and Russian firms seeking stable markets amid ongoing Western sanctions.
The visit will close with a call on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by a state banquet held in Putin’s honour. A formal departure ceremony will round off the trip before the Russian leader returns to Moscow late Friday night.
For India, the visit signals its pursuit of strategic autonomy—in defence supplies, energy security, and global diplomacy—at a time when global polarization and tariff tensions fuel uncertainty. For Russia, a warm reception in Delhi offers a powerful reminder that it retains influential partners even as it pivots toward Asia.
