Putin receives Guard of Honor; he pays tribute to Gandhi
What's the story
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is on a two-day visit to India, paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. He also signed the visitors' book and laid a wreath at the memorial. Before that, he was given a grand ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where PM Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu were present. He was accorded a tri-services Guard of Honor at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Twitter Post
Putin at Rashtrapati Bhavan
Delhi | Russian President Vladimir Putin leaves from the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he was given a Guard of Honour.
— ANI (@ANI) December 5, 2025
President Droupadi Murmu and PM Narendra Modi with the Russian President, before he departed from here.
(Pics: DD) pic.twitter.com/8WeZotWkDE
Bilateral talks
Economic recalibration on agenda at Hyderabad House
Putin arrived in New Delhi on Thursday, where he received a warm welcome from Modi at the airport. Friday's key engagement will be the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit at Hyderabad House, where the leaders are expected to discuss ways to deepen economic and strategic cooperation. They will also announce a long-term program for strategic areas of Russian-Indian economic cooperation until 2030, with a target of $100 billion in bilateral trade by the end of the decade.
Energy ties
Putin addresses Western sanctions
Ahead of the key meeting, President Putin addressed Western sanctions against Russia and their impact on India-Russia energy cooperation. He said that "certain actors" want to limit India's role in global markets by creating "artificial obstacles." He also questioned the United States's stance on buying Russian fuel while pressuring India not to do so. "If the US has the right to buy our fuel, why shouldn't India have the same privilege? This question deserves thorough examination," he said.