PM Modi, Putin travel in same car, leave from Delhi airport in Toyota Fortuner

(Image: X/@narendramodi)

As Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in India on a two-day visit, in a rare gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the Palam airport in Delhi to receive the Russian leader.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin travel in the same car, as they depart from the Palam Technical Airport in Delhi

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President Putin is on a two-day State visit to India. He will hold the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit with PM… pic.twitter.com/R1CgPlj2B6 — ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2025

The two leaders shook hands and shared a warm hug as Putin received a grand ceremonial welcome in Delhi.

As the two leaders came out of the airport, they travelled in the same car, a rerun of a viral moment that took place earlier in September at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit venue in China's Tianjin.

PM Modi with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the SCO Summit in China.

The car ride together then was a visual statement at a time when US President Donald Trump announced a tariff onslaught against New Delhi's oil trade with Moscow.

On Thursday, in Delhi, the two leaders got into a Toyota Fortuner car surrounded by their vast cavalcade and were headed to 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, where they will sit down for a dinner.