Russian President Vladimir Putin began his two-day visit to India on Thursday evening with an unusually personal and warm reception from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Marking his first trip to the country in more than four years, Putin’s arrival set the tone for a tightly scheduled yet symbolically significant 27-hour stay in New Delhi, aimed at strengthening the longstanding strategic partnership between the two nations.

The visit, held on the occasion of the 23rd Annual India–Russia Summit, opened with notable gestures that underscored the importance India places on its ties with Russia. Right from the moment Putin’s aircraft touched down at Delhi’s Palam Air Force Station at around 7 pm, the atmosphere signalled an engagement that went well beyond diplomatic formality.

A Break from Protocol and a Rare Carpool

In a move that highlighted both respect and personal rapport, Prime Minister Modi broke protocol to personally welcome President Putin at the airport. The two leaders exchanged smiles, embraced warmly, and spent several minutes greeting officials from both sides before departing together from the tarmac.

What followed generated considerable attention: Modi and Putin travelled together in the same vehicle from the airport to the Prime Minister’s residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. This was only the second time such a gesture has taken place between the two leaders, the first being in Tianjin during an earlier international engagement. Images of the two leaders talking, laughing, and sharing a relaxed ride through the capital quickly became a defining moment of Day One, symbolising the comfort and trust that characterise India–Russia relations.

After the drive, Putin was hosted at the Prime Minister’s residence for a private dinner. While details of the menu and discussions were not disclosed, the meeting was understood to have set the stage for the more formal interactions planned for the following day. The intimate nature of the dinner reinforced the message that New Delhi sees Moscow as a vital, long-term strategic partner, despite shifts in global power dynamics and external pressures.

Putin Praises Modi’s Leadership and India’s Strategic Autonomy

Ahead of his arrival in India, President Putin spoke at length in an interview with India Today, showering praise on Prime Minister Modi and India’s independent foreign policy. He remarked that India was “fortunate” to have a leader like Modi, stating that the prime minister “lives and breathes India”. He described Modi’s leadership as decisive, steady, and firmly rooted in protecting national interests rather than yielding to outside pressures.

Putin highlighted India’s refusal to succumb to the tariff pressures imposed by US President Donald Trump, who has targeted India with a 25% punitive levy over its continued purchase of discounted Russian crude. According to Putin, Modi’s firmness demonstrates both India’s strength and its evolution from its colonial past. He emphasised that India is a “great power, not an English or British colony”, and that global actors must acknowledge this reality when engaging with New Delhi.

The Russian President stressed that India and Russia share a deep, historically rooted defence and trade relationship, one that extends well beyond the pressures of current geopolitics. He said Indians can take pride in a leader who maintains a clear, unwavering, yet non-confrontational stance. Both nations, he said, seek only to safeguard their legitimate rights, not to provoke conflict.

Responding to US Pressure and the Debate on Russian Oil

One of the most discussed issues of the visit is US pressure on India over its imports of Russian crude. President Trump has publicly criticised India for continuing to buy Russian energy, despite sanctions and global tensions around the Ukraine conflict. When asked about Trump’s remarks, Putin offered a pointed response: the US continues to purchase Russian nuclear fuel for its own reactors. If Washington buys from Russia, he argued, then India should be entitled to the same freedom.

According to Putin, American attempts to curtail India’s energy trade with Russia are examples of “political instruments being used to influence normal competition.” He added that Russia stands open to discussing these contradictions directly with the US leadership. For India, which relies heavily on imported crude, discounted Russian oil remains an economic necessity, especially when high tariffs threaten price stability.

Ceremonial Welcome and High-Level Talks on Day Two

Putin’s agenda for Friday—the main day of official engagements—includes a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he will receive a tri-services guard of honour. He is scheduled to visit Raj Ghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi before heading to Hyderabad House for delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Modi. Following their discussions, the two leaders are expected to deliver joint statements to the press.

In the afternoon, Modi and Putin will attend a business event co-organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Roscongress, aimed at deepening economic and trade linkages. In the evening, President Droupadi Murmu will host a state banquet in honour of the Russian President. Putin is expected to depart India at around 9 pm, concluding the concise but high-impact visit.

What’s on the Agenda? Defence, Trade, Energy, and Mobility

The meeting between Modi and Putin is expected to cover a wide spectrum of strategic issues, anchored by defence cooperation, energy security, economic ties, and emerging technologies.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has indicated that discussions may include the possibility of Russia supplying Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets to India. While no final decision has been announced, the topic is expected to feature prominently given India’s ongoing efforts to upgrade its air combat fleet.

Oil trade remains another central agenda point. India, navigating US tariffs and global sanctions, is expected to push for mechanisms that ensure uninterrupted access to affordable Russian crude. The two sides will also discuss expanding their practice of settling transactions in national currencies, which helps limit exposure to dollar-dominated payment systems.

One of the significant developments expected during the visit is the signing of an agreement to facilitate the mobility of skilled and semi-skilled Indian professionals to Russia. Negotiations have also begun on a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the Eurasian Economic Union, a bloc of five nations including Russia. Such an agreement could significantly boost trade volumes and open new sectors for economic cooperation.

Several agreements in the fields of agriculture, academia, culture, and general trade are expected to be signed. A key goal for both countries is to raise bilateral trade from the current USD 68 billion to USD 100 billion by 2030. Strengthening financial settlements, expanding logistics, and enhancing business-to-business ties will be part of the roadmap.

A Relationship Reinforced by Symbolism and Strategic Depth

Day One of Putin’s visit was rich in symbols: a protocol-breaking airport welcome, a shared car ride, and a private dinner at the prime minister’s residence. These gestures conveyed a level of warmth and trust that went beyond traditional diplomacy.

As India balances its global partnerships amid increasingly polarised geopolitical currents, the visit underscores New Delhi’s commitment to maintaining an independent foreign policy. For Russia, the trip reaffirms the importance of one of its most dependable partners in Asia.

Day Two is expected to convert these symbolic gestures into concrete policy outcomes, further anchoring the India–Russia relationship as one of the most enduring and strategically significant partnerships in contemporary international politics.