The red carpet was rolled out, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi moved towards the aircraft as Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at Delhi to attend the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. Putin landed at Palam Airport in Delhi, and the Russian president received a grand welcome at the airport.
Prime Minister Modi received Russian President Putin at the airport, breaking protocols. The leaders shook hands and shared a hug on the tarmac. Clearly signalling the close ties between India and Russia, the leaders left the airport to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, in the same car. Prime Minister Modi will host a private dinner for the Russian president at his official residence tonight.
On Friday, President Droupadi Murmu will host a ceremonial reception for her Russian counterpart at Rashtrapati Bhavan at 11am. Putin will also visit Rajghat and pay tributes to Mahatma Gandhi.
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Both Modi and Putin will hold talks at Hyderabad House as part of the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit on Friday. In the afternoon, Putin will attend the India-Russia Business Forum and return to Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Droupadi Murmu will host a banquet in his honour.
The two-day visit comes amid India-US tariff tensions and Washington’s pressure on Delhi to discontinue the longstanding India-Russia ties. The US wants India to discontinue its defence and trade ties with Russia. The Summit will likely witness India and Russia taking their defence ties to the next level.