New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin were seen travelling together in the same vehicle shortly after the Russian leader landed at Delhi’s Palam Technical Airport on Thursday.

Putin is in India on a two-day State visit and will meet PM Modi for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit on December 5. His arrival was marked by a notable departure from standard protocol, with PM Modi personally receiving him at the airport—a gesture signalling the depth of the bilateral relationship.

This warm reception echoed a similar moment from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, last year, when both leaders travelled together in Putin’s Aurus Senat. On that occasion, Putin had waited nearly 10 minutes for PM Modi before the two departed for the venue, highlighting the camaraderie between them.

Prime Minister Modi shared images of Putin's arrival on X:

Я рад приветствовать в Дели своего друга - Президента Путина. С нетерпением жду наших встреч сегодня вечером и завтра. Дружба между Индией и Россией проверена временем; она принесла огромную пользу нашим народам.@KremlinRussia_E pic.twitter.com/yqmhCbZBde

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 4, 2025

Upon landing in Delhi, President Putin was accorded a ceremonial welcome, reinforcing the long-standing India–Russia partnership at a time when Moscow seeks to maintain its global engagement despite pressure from the West. His visit also comes against the backdrop of India navigating a complex geopolitical landscape—maintaining strong ties with Russia while deepening cooperation with Western nations.

The discussions between the two leaders are expected to cover a wide spectrum of issues, including the Ukraine conflict, the situation in Afghanistan, and the future of the India–Russia Strategic Partnership. Defence, energy, and trade cooperation are set to be key areas, with several agreements likely to be signed.

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This is Putin’s first visit to India since 2021 and his first after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. His schedule includes a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday, followed by a wreath-laying at Rajghat.