Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in India on Thursday for a strategically significant visit, set to deepen the long-standing partnership between New Delhi and Moscow. His aircraft is expected to touch down in the capital at around 6:35 pm, marking his first India trip in over four years.
India is preparing an elaborate welcome. In Varanasi, locals performed a ritual ‘aarti’ before a framed photograph of Putin.
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Another group held an “India-Russia Friendship March”, from Subhash Bhavan to the Munshi Premchand Smriti Gate, carrying posters of the two leaders and chanting slogans such as “Bharat-Russia sambandh zindabad”, “Bharat-Russia ki dosti” and “World needs India-Russia friendship”.
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Putin’s visit spans just 27 hours but is packed with crucial engagements. He will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu, with both sides preparing to hold wide-ranging discussions on defence cooperation, crude oil supplies, and expanding bilateral trade.
The Russian leader will join PM Modi for a private dinner, receive a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, and pay his respects at Rajghat on Friday morning.
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Tributes poured in from other states as well. Amritsar artist Jagjot Singh painted an acrylic portrait of Putin ahead of the visit, while in Puri, renowned sand artist Manas Kumar Sahoo created a sand animation depicting the Russian president.
Agenda of Putin’s visit
The centrepiece of the trip will be the 23rd India-Russia summit between Putin and PM Modi. Talks are expected to cover defence collaboration, energy partnerships, small modular nuclear reactors, and challenges posed by Western sanctions on oil supplies.
PM Modi will host Putin for a private dinner on Thursday and a working lunch the next day. The visiting leader will also lay a wreath at Rajghat and attend a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu.
Several agreements related to defence, trade, and labour mobility are likely to be finalised during the visit, which comes amid heightened global scrutiny over the Ukraine conflict and India’s continued emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy.
