After SCO summit drive, Modi, Putin share car ride again as Russian president begins 27-hour India visit

Russian president Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday night to begin a tightly packed 27-hour visit aimed at reinforcing an eight-decade-long partnership that has held steady despite global tensions.

Signalling the importance India attached to the visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally received Putin at Palam airport with a hug, marking the Russian leader’s first trip to India in four years. In a rare gesture, the two leaders left the airport in the same car — echoing their shared vehicle ride in Tianjin three months ago after the SCO summit.

Modi is hosting a private dinner for Putin tonight, mirroring the hospitality he received during Putin's visit to Moscow in July last year. Their talks this evening are expected to set the tone for the 23rd India–Russia summit on Friday.

The summit is likely to focus on strengthening defence ties, insulating bilateral trade from external pressure and exploring collaboration on small modular reactors — developments that will be closely watched in Western capitals. The visit also comes amid a sharp downturn in India–US relations following Washington’s steep tariffs on Indian goods, including penalties linked to New Delhi’s purchase of Russian crude.

On Friday morning, Putin will receive a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, visit Rajghat and attend summit talks at Hyderabad House, where Modi will host a working lunch for the Russian delegation. The two sides are set to seal multiple pacts, including on labour mobility and logistical support under a broader defence framework.

Trade will be a key focus, especially India’s widening deficit driven by large crude purchases from Russia. Moscow is expected to offer additional discounts even as sanctions disrupt supply volumes. India, meanwhile, hopes to boost exports of pharmaceuticals, agriculture products, food items and consumer goods, and may further discuss a possible free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union.

Defence cooperation continues to be central to the relationship. Ahead of the summit, both defence ministers held wide-ranging talks on India’s planned procurement of additional S-400 systems and other critical hardware. Discussions may also touch upon the possible supply of Su-57 fighter jets, as India evaluates fifth-generation aircraft options.

Energy cooperation is set to feature prominently as well, with Russia signalling readiness to deepen engagement across the oil and fertiliser sectors.

After concluding the summit, Putin will launch the new India channel of Russia’s state-run broadcaster and attend a state banquet hosted by president Droupadi Murmu. He is scheduled to depart New Delhi around 9 pm on Friday.

India and Russia hold an annual summit mechanism to review their entire relationship. This will be the 23rd such meeting, continuing a tradition that has become a key anchor of India’s foreign policy.