Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. File
| Photo Credit:
AP
Russian President Vladimir Putin is beginning his 2-day visit to India on Thursday (December 4, 2025) for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is his first visit to India in four years. The talks between the two leaders are expected to focus on boosting defence ties, insulating bilateral trade from external pressure and exploring cooperation in small modular reactors.
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The Russian President is likely to arrive in New Delhi at around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday (December 4, 2025), and hours later, PM Modi will host him for a private dinner in reciprocation of a similar gesture extended to the Indian prime minister by the Russian leader during his visit to Moscow in July last year.
On Friday (December 5, 2025), Mr. Putin will be accorded a ceremonial welcome before the 23rd India-Russia summit. After the summit, Mr. Putin is set to launch the new India channel of Russian state-run broadcaster RT, following which he will attend a state banquet to be hosted in his honour by President Droupadi Murmu.
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Mr. Putin’s visit marks the 25th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between India and Russia, established in October 2000. During the Russian President’s visit to India in December 2010, the Strategic Partnership was elevated to a “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership”.
(Inputs from PTI and ANI)
