Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) hugs Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting in New Delhi in 2018.Image: keystone
Dec 4, 2025, 3:44 p.mDec 4, 2025, 3:46 p.m
Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in India on a two-day state visit. After landing in Delhi in the evening (local time), Putin was greeted with a friendly hug by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the airport, Indian broadcasters reported. It is Putin’s first visit to the world’s most populous country since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than three and a half years ago. The Kremlin chief last visited India at the end of 2021.
Men walk past a billboard with portraits of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) and Russian President Vladimir Putin, hours before his scheduled arrival in New Delhi.Image: keystone
After a private dinner together, both will meet again on Friday for the 23rd India-Russia Summit. The planned talks will focus on relations between the two countries, including in the areas of trade and energy. Both sides are striving to expand their “special and privileged strategic partnership”.
India is one of the largest buyers of Russian oil. Russia also uses the proceeds from sales to finance its war of aggression against Ukraine, which Modi has repeatedly called for to end. (sda/dpa)