Putin lands in Delhi; PM Modi receives him at airport
What's the story
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday evening to attend the 23rd India-Russia summit. He was received at the Palam Airport by PM Narendra Modi. This is Putin's first visit to India in four years and the first since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Putin's trip also coincides with a reversal in ties between Washington and New Delhi, with the US punishing India with tariffs and threatening sanctions over its purchase of Russian crude during the Ukraine war.
Twitter Post
Modi at Palam Airport
Indian PM Modi is at the Delhi airport to personally welcome Russian President Putin.
— S.L. Kanthan (@Kanthan2030) December 4, 2025
A very rare event, but these two leaders really like each other. Plus, this visit can lead to huge deals and long-term strategic agreements between Russia and India. pic.twitter.com/Wql01Cw6tY
Arrival details
Putin's itinerary: Day 1
Putin arrived in New Delhi with a high-powered Russian delegation, including nine Cabinet ministers and business leaders. He will then head to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official residence for a private dinner. The dinner is a reciprocal gesture after Modi's visit to Moscow last year, where he was hosted by Putin.
Summit discussions
Putin's itinerary: Day 2
On Friday, Putin will visit Rashtrapati Bhavan for a ceremonial welcome and pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. He will then attend the 23rd India-Russia summit at Hyderabad House with PM Modi. The summit is expected to cover topics such as defense cooperation, trade expansion, and economic ties. A joint statement is likely after the talks.
Post-summit events
Business event and state banquet
After the summit, PM Modi will host a working lunch for Putin and his delegation. Putin will then attend a business event at Bharat Mandapam, addressing top business leaders at the India-Russia Business Forum. He will also launch Russia's state-run broadcaster RT's India channel. In the evening, he will meet President Droupadi Murmu, who will host a banquet in his honor before his departure from India around 9:30pm.
Future agreements
Potential agreements and discussions at the summit
The summit discussions may include expanding India's imports of Russian fertilizer and building small nuclear plants in India, as per New York Times. India may announce plans to buy more S-400 air-defense system units from Russia during this visit. Other topics could include linking India's RuPay with Russia's Mir payment network and easing rupee-rouble trade settlements. A new agreement on labor mobility is also expected, making it easier for Russian companies to hire Indian workers.