Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in India for a one-day visit on Monday, with a number of deals set to be finalised in talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and an inaugural '2+2' dialogue featuring foreign and defence ministers of the two sides on the sidelines. Ahead of the summit, India had cleared the long-pending AK 203 Kalashnikov rifles deal worth nearly Rs 5,000 crore for production of over five lakh AK-203 assault rifles at Korwa in Amethi by an Indo-Russian joint venture. The two sides are also likely to wrap up the final phase of negotiations for a logistics support agreement, which is likely to be signed either during the two-plus-two talks or at the summit.
India and Russia are also set to renew for the next decade a framework for military-technical cooperation at the summit, besides announcing a joint commission on technology and science. The two sides may also firm up a number of defence procurement proposals besides deliberating on the long-pending project for joint production of 200 twin-engine Kamov-226T light helicopters for Indian armed forces.
On the foreign affairs side, India is likely to apprise the Russian side about its position on the eastern Ladakh border row as well as its concerns over various regional developments.
Schedule for the day
The day will begin with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoygu under the framework of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military-Technical Cooperation. Separately, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will hold talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Then the foreign and defence ministers of the two sides will hold the '2+2' dialogue at 11:30 am. Modi and Putin will hold a one-on-meeting before the 21st India-Russia summit. A dinner will also be hosted for the Russian leader. Modi and Putin will begin the summit talks at 5:30 pm, and the Russian leader will leave Delhi at 9:30pm.
