Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in Delhi on Thursday evening, marking the beginning of a two-day state visit to India during which the two nations are expected to sign multiple agreements. Putin is visiting India on an invitation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and it is the first since the Russian leader launched his war against Ukraine.
The visit, Putin’s first to India since 2021, is a historic one, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the India–Russia strategic partnership and the 23rd bilateral summit between the two nations.
Following his arrival, President Putin will attend a private dinner hosted by PM Modi at his official residence.
On Friday morning, he will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, followed by a tri-service Guard of Honour. The President will then pay his respects at Rajghat before holding formal talks with PM Modi at Hyderabad House.
Major announcements and agreement signings are expected after the talks, followed by a joint media statement. Putin will be accompanied by Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut, Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev and Transport Minister Roman Nikitin. In addition, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina will also be part of the visiting contingent. REGULAR, HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE Russian presidential aide Uri Ushakov said the bilateral talks between Putin and PM Modi will be “regular and confidential."
On September 1, the two leaders met in Tianjin, China, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. They have also remained in contact over the phone and have had five telephonic conversations so far this year.
Ahead of the trip to Delhi, President Putin received National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Moscow twice as part of preparatory consultations.
The visit coincides with the 15th anniversary of the 2009 Joint Statement elevating the relationship to a “special and privileged strategic partnership.” Both sides expect the summit to review cooperation in security, economy, finance, transport, technology, education and culture.
Ushakov said PM Modi and Putin will discuss in detail the expanding trade and economic partnership, with bilateral trade rising 12 per cent in 2024 to USD 63.6 billion. Russia is prepared to address India’s concerns over the widening trade imbalance and has proposed mechanisms to shield bilateral transactions from external pressure.
A major deliverable is expected to be the Programme for the Development of Strategic Areas of Russian-Indian Economic Cooperation until 2030, along with sectoral agreements covering trade, energy, agriculture, health and media.
The August meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission in Moscow reviewed large ongoing projects spanning industrial cooperation, innovative technologies, mining, transport links, space, healthcare and labour mobility.
On Friday afternoon, Modi and Putin will jointly address the India–Russia Business Forum at Bharat Mandapam, where investment opportunities, manufacturing partnerships and technology collaboration will be highlighted.
Ushakov pointed to growing people-to-people links: in 2024, Russians made more than 80,000 trips to India while Indians visited Russia over 40,000 times. He said tourism and cultural exchange have considerable potential for expansion.
Defence cooperation will feature prominently during the talks. India and Russia are likely to review the development of advanced BrahMos variants, including lighter air-launched models such as the BrahMos-NG and extended-range versions.
Discussions are also expected on hypersonic projects, long-range air-to-air missiles and India’s planned procurement of additional S-400 missiles. BrahMos, a flagship joint venture, saw operational deployment during Operation Sindoor, and India has begun exporting the system, starting with the Philippines.
The leaders will also exchange views on major international issues, including cooperation at the UN, SCO, G20 and Brics. Russia said it looks forward to coordinating with India as it prepares to assume the Brics chairmanship in 2026.
President Droupadi Murmu will host a state banquet in Putin’s honour on Friday evening, after which he will depart for Moscow.
