PM Modi hosts private dinner for ‘friend’ Vladimir Putin as India-Russia summit begins today

The dinner, which lasted nearly three hours, came shortly after PM Modi received President Putin at Delhi’s Palam airport, greeting him with a hug before the two drove together in the Prime Minister’s car.

Putin arrived in New Delhi around 6:35 pm, and PM Modi later shared photographs of their meeting on X, both at the airport and at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.

“Delighted to welcome my friend, President Putin to India… India-Russia friendship is a time-tested one that has greatly benefitted our people,” he wrote.

The bilateral summit between the two leaders will take place on Friday, beginning with a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan and concluding with a state banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu.

Putin is also scheduled to visit Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and inaugurate a new India-based channel of the Russian state broadcaster.

President Putin is accompanied by a large business delegation, with India aiming to reduce its widening trade deficit with Russia, media reports said.

Officials say the summit will focus on three major pillars of cooperation — defence, energy and trade — with agreements expected in shipping, healthcare, fertilisers and connectivity.

Ahead of the leaders’ meeting, defence ministers of both countries held extensive talks on issues ranging from India’s plan to acquire more S-400 air defence systems to pending deliveries delayed by the Ukraine conflict.

The S-400 system, acquired under a USD 5 billion deal, played a key role during Operation Sindoor.

According to reports, Moscow may also push the option of its Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets, putting Russia directly in competition with Western platforms such as the Rafale, F-21, F/A-18 and Eurofighter Typhoon.

Meanwhile, India’s purchases of discounted Russian crude have dipped recently following fresh US sanctions on two major Russian producers.

President Putin’s visit comes at a sensitive moment, with several Indian officials privately describing current India-US relations as “the most strained in two decades.”

Washington has recently imposed a 50% tariff on several Indian goods, along with an additional 25% levy linked directly to India’s procurement of Russian oil.

Putin is expected to depart New Delhi on Friday night around 9 pm, wrapping up a tightly packed schedule underscoring one of India’s most enduring strategic partnerships.